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Club confirm Newcastle United star has returned to training but restricted to ‘light work’

3 years ago
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Martin Dubravka’s freak pre-season injury last summer led to opportunity for Karl Darlow, the 30 year old playing the first 25 Premier League games of the 2020/21 season until Dubravka forced his way back in.

It looked like history very much repeating itself, Dubravka needing surgery pre-season once again and ruled out from the start of the season.

However, Karl Darlow struck down with Covid and then the other two senior keepers Woodman and Gillespie having to self-isolate.

Dan Langley stepped in and the 20 year old played the first two friendlies before Gillespie and Woodman ended self-isolation and have subsequently shared equally the goalkeeping duties in the next three friendlies.

No sign of Karl Darlow and we then heard the news that not only had he been struck down by a bad bout of Covid, the former Forest keeper had been hospitalised. Darlow then released and allowed home.

However, now we have had the first bit of positivity.

The club, in the form of goalkeeping coach Simon Smith, letting us know that Karl Darlow has at last returned to the training ground today.

Simon Smith via Twitter – Wednesday 4 August 2021:

“Great to have Karl Darlow out on the grass this morning doing some ‘light’ goalkeeping work!

“On the road to recovery.”

Great news that Karl Darlow has taken this major step forward but quite obvious as well, that this is set to be a gradual process. No chance of Darlow involved in Saturday’s final friendly against Norwich, nor of course when the season kicks off against West Ham in 11 days time.

Good luck to Karl Darlow and here’s a rundown of the situation regarding the other Newcastle United players who are currently battling back from injury / illness.

Callum Wilson

Steve Bruce said after Friday’s friendly win at Burton that Callum Wilson missed the match because of slight hamstring injury but expects him back in training by the middle of next week (now!). “If it was a league game tonight, I think he would have played.’

Despite that positive appraisal from Bruce, no sign of Wilson at Burnley.

Callum Wilson only managed 23 Premier League starts last season and throughout his career the striker has repeatedly been ruled out due to hamstring issues, as well as other injuries on top.

I’m guessing the only way Callum Wilson should be starting against West Ham, is if he returns to training pain free for this next week and a half and plays most of Saturday’s final friendly against Norwich.

Martin Dubravka

Surgery on a broken metatarsal and will miss start of season, unknown as to exactly when we can expect him back.

Allan Saint-Maximin

BBC Newcastle reported that Steve Bruce said on Friday night: ‘That it’s “possible” Allan Saint-Maximin could be back from illness for the friendly against Norwich next Saturday but they’ll “have to see how he recovers”.’

On Tuesday ASM played no part in the defeat to Burnley but afterwards Steve Bruce said that he ‘hopes’ by the weekend Saint-Maximin is over his mystery illness and will be involved against Norwich.

ASM has only managed to start 42 of the 76 Premier League games so far these past two years, Bruce has to tread very carefully with the French winger.

Miguel Almiron 

Due to be back on Tyneside last weekend according to Steve Bruce, though no clarification on whether he has fully recovered from his hamstring injury.

Steve Bruce then stated yesterday that he expects Almiron to join in with training for the first time today (Wednesday).

With so little training and minutes (will he even get any on Saturday) in pre-season friendlies, he might make the squad against West Ham possibly but surely no chance of starting.

Elliot Anderson

Steve Bruce has confirmed his hip injury issue after The Mail originally reported the young midfielder had been told to rest for at least a month to try and solve the problem.

Javier Manquillo

Has been completely missing from the friendlies due to injury and no sign of him in training recently.

Jonjo Shelvey

Midfielder recovering from a calf injury and hadn’t featured in any friendlies until 30 minutes against Burnley yesterday.

Steve Bruce says he is ‘on the road to recovery’, whilst Shelvey himself says he is hoping for more minutes against Norwich to possibly put him in the picture for West Ham. That looks far too optimistic and even Steve Bruce surely wouldn’t consider starting the midfielder against the Hammers.

Paul Dummett

Had been involved in all of the first three friendlies but then Steve Bruce confirmed a ‘nick on the calf’ had put him on the injury list again. When asked about Dummett after the defeat at Burnley, Bruce appeared to indicate no chance of the Geordie defender starting against West Ham.

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