Steve Bruce names three senior Newcastle United players who will face Fulham

The Newcastle United midfielder – who signed a new deal at the club in August – hasn’t played so far this season because of a thigh problem. However, Longstaff has trained all week, and Steve Bruce has pencilled him in for a start in Monday’s Under-23 game against Fulham at St James’s Park.

"Thankfully, he’s traimed for a week,” said United's head coach. “We’ll play in him alongside Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett. Touch wood, it looks like he’s on the road to recovery.”

Longstaff’s return to fitness comes ahead of tomorrow night's home game against Manchester United. The 20-year-old, memorably, scored on his Premier League debut against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side last season, and also netted at Old Trafford.

All Newcastle’s international players, including defender Fabian Schar, have returned unscathed.

Schar played three games for Switzerland despite being taken off against Burnley with a shoulder problem, while left-back Jamal Lewis returned early from Northern Ireland duty because of an Achilles issue.

Winger Ryan Fraser also topped up his fitness with three Scotland appearances.

“They’re all OK,” said Bruce. “Everyone’s returned OK. Jamal Lewis returned early. That was agreed, and he’s fine. Fraser, great news for him. We needed him to be careful. He’s not played since last March much. So, yeah, it’s done him the world of good – and he got a winner.”

Meanwhile, Bruce confirmed that goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is making slower-than-hoped progress from an operation on his heel. Bruce said: “It’s slower than we would have liked. Let nature take it's course.”

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