Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce is sweating on the fitness of a number of key players ahead of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
The Magpies kick off their campaign against West Ham United at St James' Park on Sunday, August 15, and will hope to be able to field a full strength squad for the visit of the Hammers.
But, as is often the case in pre-season, Bruce is having to juggle with the differing levels of fitness of some of his squad, while a number of United stars have picked up untimely injuries.
Here's a full round-up of those players whose fitness United are sweating on.
READ MORE: Joelinton injury latest as striker forced off
Jonjo Shelvey
Jonjo Shelvey will miss part of pre-season after picking up a summer injury training on his own.
When asked about his absence ahead of Sunday's 1-0 friendly defeat to York City, Bruce told reporters: "Jonjo hurt himself before pre-season doing running on his own.
"He hurt his calf so he’ll not be around for a while just yet."
Martin Dubravka
Newcastle were expecting scan results this week on a foot injury picked up by the Magpies goalkeeper while playing for Slovakia at this summer's European Championships.
"Martin picked up a foot injury with his country at the Euros, and is having an operation," Bruce confirmed to reporters on Sunday.
"We’ll not know how bad that is until tomorrow.
Joelinton
The Brazilian forward lasted just 18 minutes of Sunday's friendly defeat to York City before being replaced with an injury.
The severity of his knock will be scanned over the next couple of days.
"He wanted to carry on which tells me that it’s not that serious but it’s obviously a concern.
"We’ll not know until we scan him and give the results out in the next couple of days."
Karl Darlow, Freddie Woodman and Mark Gillespie
Darlow tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and will have to self-isolate for 10 days.
Fellow goalkeepers Woodman and Gillespie were identified as close contacts and despite testing negative are also required to self-isolate for a 10-day period.
Miguel Almiron
Almiron recently helped Paraguay reach the quarter-finals of Copa America and is not scheduled to join up with the United squad until later in the summer.
Fabian Schar
Schar recently helped Switzerland reach the quarter finals of EURO 2020 and is not scheduled to join up with the United squad until later in the summer.
Emil Krafth
Krafth recently helped Sweden reach the last 16 of EURO 2020 and is not scheduled to join up with the United squad until later in the summer.
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