Returning to light training after 10 months out, maybe Massadio Haidara could be a real asset but the chances of even staying fit long enough to potentially show anything, are daunting enough.

The treatment room could be set to clear a little with Rafa Benitez revealing that two players could return for the Sunderland match on Sunday.

The two of them look set for the bench with the ‘interesting’ possibility of Seydou Doumbia making his first start…

Since December, despite currently being eighth in the table, Stoke City have only beaten Newcastle’s relegation rivals, Bournemouth, Villa and Norwich – Not sure whether that is a positive or negative statistic..

Chancel Mbemba and Aleksandar Mitrovic confirmed as having returned to training ahead of Wednesday’s match at Stoke.

After the win over Lillestrom, Steve McClaren was asked about the six players who hadn’t been included in the matchday squad.

Siem de Jong: “It has been too much up and down and we need to try get the ups more and the downs less.”

Very hard to have any expectations but…if Siem de Jong could get properly fit and recreate his form at Ajax…

Only at Newcastle under Mike Ashley and his minions could we end up with four strikers but only one of them playing, yet not one fit for purpose left-back at the club and no decent centre-backs available either.

Steve McClaren: “The likes of Vurnon Anita, Massadio Haidara, Paul Dummett, even Papiss Cisse and Chancel Mbemba have got a chance of the Stoke game. With the 18 day gap after Chelsea, we are hoping at least two or three of them will be back as well.”