The Magpies welcome four previously unavailable players back for the Premier League trip to Molineux but some fans seem nervous about Jonjo Shelvey.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has issued a positive update regarding overall player availability ahead of Monday night’s Premier League encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Three players have returned from injury as Mohamed Diame, Ki Sung-yueng and Paul Dummett have been passed fit by the Magpies, making them available to face Nuno Espirito Santo’s high-flyers.
Forward Yoshinori Muto, meanwhile, is back from Japan’s Asian Cup campaign after having helped the Samurai Blue to the final of the competition, where they lost to Qatar.
Only Jonjo Shelvey and Rob Elliot are unavailable for the game at Molineux, but with a relatively clean bill of health within the team plus record new signing Miguel Almiron at his disposal, Benitez is feeling optimistic ahead of the Wolves game.
“Apart from Jonjo and Elliot, the rest of the team are fine,” the Spaniard told the official Newcastle website. “Everyone else is fit and available. It is good news – competition, as I always say, is positive for the team.”
Here is how some of the Toon Army reacted to Benitez’s comments, with several asking or commenting in particular about Shelvey:
Benitez added in his pre-match presser that Shelvey is “close” and pushing for a return, adding: “He’s been training outside, but we don’t want to take any risks.”
The 26-year-old has endured a difficult campaign this term, starting just eight Premier League games and making 12 in all competitions (Transfermarkt) while his last game was the 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup.
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