Allan Saint-Maximin will undergo tests this week but Steve Bruce believes it will be a 'while' before Newcastle United's talisman returns to action following his COVID-19 battle.
The Frenchman, who has not played for the Magpies since the 2-0 defeat against Chelsea back in November, was the player worst hit by the club's coronavirus outbreak.
As well as battling the virus, Saint-Maximin has had to contend with the energy-sapping after-effects, which have prevented the forward from doing any sort of training for a while now.
Saint-Maximin spent some time with his family back in France over the festive period but the 23-year-old has since returned to the UK.
Bruce is awaiting the go-ahead from club doctor Paul Catterson for Saint-Maximin to return to light training but the Newcastle head coach knows the fans' favourite will need time to get back up and running again.
"Well, look, he's been out for the best part of seven weeks now so we've got to see how he is physically," Bruce told NUFC TV.
"He's still got one or two tests to be done over the next 48 hours so that's critical to him so we hope that he can get back up and started, but I would still think it's a while away yet."
Newcastle have scored just two goals since December 19 and the Magpies are currently on an eight-game winless run in all competitions.
While Saint-Maximin was not at his absolute best earlier this season, the forward remains that one Newcastle player who can pull a rabbit out of the hat on his day and he proved the difference maker in the 3-1 win against Burnley in October.
