Newcastle United are aiming to return to their Benton base on Tuesday as they look to resume training after last week's Covid-19 crisis.
Toon players were told on Monday that they must continue preparations for the game with West Bromwich Albion at their homes and work from individual workout programmes assigned by coaching staff.
But after another round of Covid tests on Monday morning, Newcastle chiefs are hopeful that it will "game on" against the Baggies and that training can restart on Tuesday morning.
The Magpies have not trained since November 26 on Tyneside when they warmed up for the 2-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Since then the training ground was closed for health and safety reasons and players were ordered to stay at home.
The encounter against Aston Villa was postponed last week at Villa Park after the Premier League and the second city club approved Newcastle's request to rearrange the fixture.
It remains to be seen how many players will absent if training does resume and whether the club need to call up some of their Under-23 squad.
It was a case of business as usual for the second string on Saturday as they played Sheff United in a friendly at Whitley Park and drew 1-1 with the likes of Rodrigo Vilca, Yannick Toure and Kyle Scott involved.
