Injury problems have meant that Eddie Howe hasn’t been able to name what fans would perceive as his ‘best XI’ this season, but that hasn’t impeded their performances on the pitch so far this term. An unbeaten October followed an unbeaten September with the Magpies ending the month in fourth place and firmly in the frame for a potential European spot.
What has made this even more remarkable is they have done this without Allan Saint-Maximin and Jonjo Shelvey being available for large parts of the campaign. Club-record purchase Alexander Isak has also spent a large period of time on the sidelines with Callum Wilson only now coming back to full-fitness after injury worries of his own.
But when are Newcastle’s current injured stars expected to be back in-action? Here, we take a look at the expected return dates of Newcastle’s injured stars and what Eddie Howe has said about their rehab progress.
9. Callum Wilson
Wilson was substituted against Southampton but missed the game with Crystal Palace in midweek through illness. Although injury problems have plagued his season, Wilson is expected to feature against Chelsea. Howe said: "He’s been unwell and slightly under the weather and that has been evident so we now need to look after him and make sure he gets his full strength back before we put him on the pitch.” Photo: Stu Forster