Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has dropped an encouraging injury update on long-term absentee Paul Dummett.
The Academy graduate has made 201 senior appearances for the Magpies but hasn’t featured for them at all this season.
Given that he also missed a sizeable portion of last season with a variety of issues, it’s been a frustrating couple of years for the 30-year-old.
However, he’s back on the grass at the club’s training ground and according to Howe, it shouldn’t be too long before he’s back in action.
“He will be an important player,” he said, as quoted by Chronicle Live. “I’ve always liked him.”
“His situation is he is back out running with the physio and sports scientist on the grass, which is a great sign.
“I know he’s had a couple of setbacks in his journey back to full fitness. He’s through that now and we can get him back to full fitness quite quickly.
“But I still feel he has a little way to go before he’s available for selection.”
Howe gives encouraging injury update on Newcastle defender
This is good news for Newcastle fans, with a solid local player on track to return sooner rather than later.
All the talk around St James’ Park right now is about who is going to be brought in during the January transfer window.
However, given the length of time he’s been out, Dummett will be like a new signing for Howe when he gets back fit.
The Magpies finally got their first win of the season last weekend but they have a nightmarish run of games coming up, with their next five fixtures consisting of trips to Leicester, Liverpool and Everton and home matches against Man City and Man United.
In other news, Newcastle are reportedly in talks to sign Cavani 2.0, with Liverpool also keen.
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