The club released images of the squad in training at our Benton base on Wednesday afternoon – and they appear to offer some mixed news on the fitness front ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford.
The good news is that Javier Manquillo is pictured back with the group, suggesting the ankle injury that kept him out of last weekend’s 1-1 draw with West Ham has healed slightly quicker than some expected.
Elsewhere, Federico Fernandez is back on the grass for the first time since the turn of the year, with him not featuring since our 1-0 win over Burnley in December.
However, one concern from the training photos is there’s no Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Frenchman didn’t travel to London last weekend, missing out due to a ‘kick to his calf’, and the videos he’s posted on his Instagram over the past few days suggest he’s still working away from the group.
The Chronicle recently reported that he was expected to return to Eddie Howe’s squad this weekend, yet the clips he’s posted of him in the gym show the 24-year-old wincing as someone flexes his left leg.
Let’s hope he’s back training on Tyneside ASAP, although these latest updates – from the club itself and ASM’s social media – suggest he may yet be struggling for Saturday’s trip to Brentford:
Try an ice pack on your calf Allan get well soon
Victor(Quote)