Eddie Howe has a near full strength Newcastle United squad available to face Tottenham Hotspur. Allan Saint-Maximin and Emil Krafth are among the absentees who will miss the clash with Spurs at St. James' Park this weekend, while Ryan Fraser continues to train with the Under-21s side having been dropped from the first-team set-up.
The Magpies can strengthen their grip on the Champions League places with a win over Spurs and can create a six point buffer to their rivals in fifth place. Howe's side have a game in hand and could move nine points clear of Spurs with a win in that game.
Despite a disappointing defeat to Aston Villa last time out, the Toon are in a good place heading into the final eight games of the Premier League campaign.
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Emil Krafth
The Sweden international remains Newcastle's only long-term absentee, having suffered an ACL injury in the Carabao Cup second-round win at Tranmere Rovers in August. Krafth has been included in the Magpies' 25-man Premier League squad, but the full-back recently stressed he is not putting himself under any pressure to return to action too soon.
Howe revealed Krafth was back on the grass and is hopeful of seeing the defender back on the pitch but not before the end of the season.
The Toon head coach said: "He's doing well. He's confident about his recovery. I'm not sure we'll see him in the squad before the end of the season but what we do hope is that we can implement him back into training very lightly towards the end of the season."
Allan Saint-Maximin
Newcastle's number 10 has not played since the win over West Ham United after a scan revealed damage to his hamstring. The French forward has returned to his homeland for intensive treatment, and took to social media to vow he would be 'back soon'.
Howe said: "We are not 100 per cent sure on Maxi. So we will wait and see. There’s not been a setback and it’s taken a little bit longer than we hope. With hamstring injuries we have to be careful.”
When asked about Saint-Maximin being in France, Howe said: “He’s not in the country and joins us on Monday. He’s ok.”
