Newcastle United official update on Sean Longstaff & Joe Willock as £17m duo set to return v Man Utd

Newcastle United aren't set for any fitness boosts against Manchester United this Saturday (8pm kick-off) with Eddie Howe providing updates on Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock.

The Magpies seemingly came through the 1-1 Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain unscathed with Howe claiming no new injury issues had been picked up. The squad will be boosted by the return of Matt Ritchie and Emil Krafth on the bench after they missed the PSG match due to not being in the Champions League squad.

Willock and Longstaff have missed the last two matches due to respective Achilles and ankle injuries. While Howe insists they aren't 'long-term' issues, the pair won't be back for the Man United match at St James' Park.

"Sean and Joe aren't long-term injuries," said Howe. "We're hopeful we can get them back. The problem is, two or three weeks at this stage seems a like a lifetime because of the amount of games. At any other stage of the season, it wouldn't have been too bad.

"Very difficult to give you a definitive time on both players but they're not too bad."

Sven Botman is back training away from the first-team as he recovers from a knee injury while Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson remain out with foot and hamstring issues. Elliot Anderson, Dan Burn, Matt Targett and Jacob Murphy all have injuries that will force them out until early 2024.

Sandro Tonali is also sidelined for the remainder of the season after being handed a 10-month betting ban.