Newcastle United’s loanees are set to return before the end of the Premier League season.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has told the Evening Chronicle that the Toon’s loan stars must train with the academy when they return, including midfielder Jack Colback.
The Football League finishes before the Premier League, which means Colback , Adam Armstrong, Jamie Sterry, Sean Longstaff, Dan Barlaser, and Alex Gilliead are all expected to return soon.
Striker Aleksander Mitrovic could also return before the end of the Premier League season, unless Fulham finish in the Championship play-off places which would see the Serbian forward remain in west London.
Benitez said that there is no space in first-team training for his loan stars as the Spanish boss does 11 vs 11 at Darsley Park, which means his returning stars must train with the academy instead of the first team.
“Some players will come back,” Benitez said. “I need to have a meeting with Steve Nickson and Ben Dawson about it. “At the moment we don’t need more bodies because everybody is available.
“We even have a problem when we play 11 vs 11 in training because somebody is left out. In terms of competition, it’s difficult for them. As I say we have had to leave a couple of players out of training.
“So we can’t bring in more players if we are leaving some out. We have to make sure they (the current first team squad) get minutes in training so they compete in the squad to play.”
That means even 28-year-old Colback, who earns £35,000 a week according to the Daily Star, will be forced to train with Dawson’s second string ahead of the summer transfer window.
Newcastle have four Premier League games still to play, as they play host to rock-bottom West Bromwich Albion on Saturday before facing Watford, Tottenham Hotspur and then Chelsea on May 13.
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