Newcastle United striker Chris Wood should be fit for Sunday's clash at his old club Burnley. Wood has played his part for Newcastle this season and has been the focal point in attack during the club's revival as well as scoring two very important goals away to Southampton and at home to Wolves.
The New Zealand striker missed the 2-0 win over Arsenal after a hip injury ruled him out at St James' Park. But the £25million January signing will be assessed by medics and is likely to rejoin training for the Turf Moor encounter.
Eddie Howe won't take any chances on Wood after a long hard season but the player is set for a busy summer in any case with New Zealand facing Peru in Barcelona for a friendly game before World Cup play-off action in Qatar against Costa Rica.
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Speaking about Wood's fitness chance for the clash at Burnley, Howe said: "Chris Wood had a hip problem which we hope isn’t too serious."
Howe could also have Javier Manquillo back (chicken pox) while Fabian Schar is recovering from a severe blow to the head against the Gunners. Howe said: "Fabian, I think, is okay. "He was taken off due to protocols. He wanted to stay on, but think it was the right decision."
Schar did not need any assistance as he left the ground on Monday night. Howe is considering whether to rotate some of his squad for the game at Burnley but with the top 10 and a couple of million in prize money up for grabs, he will be taking the clash seriously.
Howe said: "There is no such thing as a dead game for Newcastle, not even a pre-season friendly, in my eyes. "We have to be... well we are very proud to represent the club, but we have to represent it in the right way."
