Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles appears to have won his race to get fit.
Lascelles played with injury throughout last season, and has struggled to recover to full health.
The centre-back now faces a race against time to be fit for Newcastle’s opening Premier League match, which comes in two weekends’ time.
But Benitez is hopeful that the defender will be back in time to play against Tottenham Hotspur.
“I think next week he will be training with the group, he will be OK.”
Even if Lascelles is fit, he faces a fight to win his place in Newcastle’s team.
The Magpies have brought in Florian Lejeune to improve their defensive options, and the Spaniard has impressed over pre-season.
Newcastle also have Ciaran Clark available to them, and the Republic of Ireland international was in very impressive form last term.
The Magpies lost their most recent friendly 2-1 against Mainz, but have otherwise been unbeaten over pre-season.
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