Newcastle United midfielder facing month on the sidelines

The midfielder will undergo a hernia operation in London today after missing yesterday’s 1-1 behind-closed-doors draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Steve Bruce had admitted before the Premier League game that Shelvey had been carrying a groin injury for a number of weeks.

And Bruce hopes Shelvey, 28, will be back late next month following his surgery.

"It's a sportsman's hernia, so we think he might be available after the next international break,” said United's head coach. "It's been niggling him, which is normal, but he hurt it putting a free-kick into the box last week. He's going to be operated on in London."

Bruce has midfielders Sean and Matty Longstaff back from illness and injury respectively. Isaac Hayden, meanwhile, was named on the bench at Molineux after being forced off against Manchester United at St James's Park the previous weekend.