Newcastle given major injury boost before Chelsea tie as Eddie Howe welcomes back two huge stars
Newcastle have been dealt a major boost ahead of their meeting with Chelsea this weekend. Eddie Howe will welcome the Blues to St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon in what is expected to be a blockbuster clash.
Mauricio Pochettino's side head into the tie off the back of an exhilarating 4-4 draw with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. The west Londoners almost snatched three-points from the reigning Premier League champions, but it wasn't meant to be.
Chelsea have lost just one of their previous five fixtures in the English top-flight so they'll be desperate to continue their rich vein of form after the international break. As for the Magpies, they've lost each of their last two games in all competitions with disappointing defeats to Bournemouth in the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Newcastle have struggled to juggle a growing injury list, but a win against the Blues could be the perfect catalyst ahead of a busy couple of weeks. In fact, according to Craig Hope, the Daily Mail's north-east football correspondent, Howe is expected to welcome back two big players from the treatment room this week.
The report states that Miguel Almiron and Alexander Isak will be fit to face Chelsea this weekend, meanwhile Sean Longstaff remains a doubt despite his ankle issue beginning to 'settle quickly'. Hope adds that Sven Botman has 'progressed well' over the international break and 'should' avoid surgery if his knee doesn't swell up again.
In the Chelsea treatment room, Pochettino could have a trick of his own up his sleeve. Christopher Nkunku is still yet to make his competitive debut for the Blues following a major blow to his knee during a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund.
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