Eddie Howe names Newcastle United player on brink of early return from injury

Jonjo Shelvey, sidelined since late the summer with a hamstring problem which needed surgery, is pencilled in to return to training today, though the midfielder won’t be involved against Brentford tomorrow.

Asked about Shelvey’s recovery, head coach Howe said: “It’s going very well. Jonjo is, I’d say, ahead of schedule.

"He’s hopefully going to be involved with us in training today for the first time. There will still be a bit of caution from me and the medical team as to when he’s ready to play, but he’s certainly making positive strides at the moment.”

Shelvey – who will trigger a one-year contract extension if he plays three more games this season – suffered his injury in a 3-2 defeat to Benfica at the Estadio da Luz in late July.

And Howe feels that the 30-year-old, and his range of passing, has been missed so far this season.

"Jonjo’s got real strengths for us that we miss,” said Howe. “His range of pass, his eye for a pass – and his execution of that – is of the very highest level. I think there’s definitely been games and times during the period where he’s been missed.”

Shelvey had worked through the summer on his fitness.

Speaking before suffering his injury, Shelvey said: “I’ve not really had a summer. I was injured at the back end of the season, and I went away and did my rehab in Turkey and took my trainer with me. I’m feeling the benefits from it.”