Steve Bruce names TWO Newcastle United players who could make surprise returns against Liverpool

The midfielders have been sidelined with hamstring injuries in recent weeks, but head coach Steve Bruce hopes to have them back for Sunday’s final game of the season at St James’s Park.

However, defender Emil Krafth is doubtful with the ankle problem he sustained in Monday night’s goalless draw against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. Kelland Watts could deputise for Krafth.

“We might have Isaac and Sean back,” said Bruce. “We’ve got a problem with Emil, he took a nasty whack to his ankle. We’ll see how they are.

“We’ve got six centre-backs on the books, and five of them are injured. The one stand-in (Krafth) we put in, he got injured too. We’ve been unfortunate with injuries in my view this year.”

Meanwhile, defender Fabian Schar will today have surgery on the shoulder he dislocated in last week’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Bruce said: “He has an operation this afternoon, so we’re hoping that it’ll be six to eight weeks. We’re hoping that when the season is about to start, he’ll be there or thereabouts.

"That goes for (Jamaal) Lascelles, and all the ones who are injured. We’re hoping they’ll be okay to join when we resume.”

Newcastle, held to a goalless draw by Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday night, are 13th in the Premier League table with 44 points. The lowest the club could finish is 14th.