Steve Bruce has worrying fitness update on key Newcastle United player

The winger suffered an ankle injury in the club’s Carabao Cup defeat to Leicester City in late August.

And Ritchie, an influential player on and off the pitch, is “not near” to a comeback, according to head coach Steve Bruce.

“Ritchie isn’t near fitness at the moment,” said Bruce. “He saw a specialist last week.

“We’ll see if rest does it. He’s still not ready to return.”