Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has revealed that Alexander Isak and Sven Botman are both injury doubts for Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at St James' Park.
Isak picked up a knee issue in the closing stages of Newcastle's 2-2 draw with West Ham United before the international break – a game in which the striker scored twice – and he was subsequently forced to withdraw from the Sweden squad earlier this month.
Botman, meanwhile, has also been dealing with a knee injury and has missed each of the Magpies' last four matches in all competitions.
Ahead of this weekend's contest with Crystal Palace, Howe has provided a mixed update on both players at a pre-match press conference.
"Alex [Isak] hasn't trained with us yet so we're going to see if he's fit and available," Howe told reporters on Friday morning.
"Sven is improving. The two weeks has been good for him."
Meanwhile, Howe has revealed that he is hopeful that Joelinton will return to the matchday squad this weekend after missing Newcastle's last two games with a thigh injury.
"We hope he'll be back this weekend," said Howe. "He's trained well and looked good.
"He's done a lot of work so I'm confident as I sit here now that he's going to be OK and hopefully he'll return to the form we know he can produce. A huge player for us."
Howe has also confirmed that Joe Willock is closing in on a return after taking part in training for the first time this week following a lengthy spell out with a hamstring injury.
However, the Magpies boss has insisted that the club must "sensibly" manage the return of Willock, who has not played for the club since May.
"I want him back but we have to do it sensibly," Howe added: "He's trained this week for the first time with the group but it's probably a bit early for him to be involved in the matchday squad, but he's getting closer."
In addition, Newcastle will be without academy graduate Lewis Miley this weekend, as Howe has revealed that the teenage midfielder has glandular fever.
"He's got glandular fever so he's currently resting from that," said Howe, "He's probably a couple of weeks into four weeks of lower physical exertion but then hopefully we can build him up. It's a blow for us and him because he's a real talent."
Newcastle will be able to welcome back Anthony Gordon from a one-match suspension on Saturday, while Sandro Tonali is "very much available for selection" according to Howe, despite the ongoing investigation by Italian prosecutors into his illegal betting activity.
The Magpies currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, four points behind the top four and one point above Crystal Palace in nine place. body check tags ::
