Steve Bruce has some good news on Joelinton

Steve Bruce this week lost Florian Lejeune and Emil Krafth to injuries suffered in Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw against Everton.

Allan Saint-Maximin sat out that game after making a 96-minute comeback from injury four days earlier, while Joelinton took a kick on the ankle at Goodison Park.

However, both will be available for tomorrow’s sold-out FA Cup tie against Oxford United at St James’s Park, though Andy Carroll remains sidelined with a hip problem.

“Joe’s fine, we think,” said head coach Bruce. “His was a kick which he had on his ankle, but we think he’s going to be OK.

“Saturday might be too quick for Andy, but Allan will be involved. We’ve let him recover from last week. I think it would have been too much to play (against Everton), but he looks OK.”