Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce is expected to hand returning defenders Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett some eagerly anticipated pre-season minutes against Crewe Alexandra tomorrow in York.
The duo have not played since the early part of 2020 but return in the behind closed doors clash with the Railwaymen at Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate.
For Dummett, it will be his first outing since he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the 1-1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The former Wales international was actually fit for Project Restart but the Premier League opted against relaxing the rules meaning he could not be registered again for the final nine games of the season.
Clark picked up an ankle injury in the 4-0 thumping at Arsenal and failed to recover for the end of the season as expected.
Lascelles has made a rapid recovery from an ankle injury sustained in Newcastle's 2-1 loss at Watford in July but is back weeks earlier than Bruce expected.
Bruce told the Chronicle: "Everybody, touch wood, is now training, so it’s good news for (Florian) Lejeune.
"It’s good news for (Paul) Dummett, good news for (Jamaal) Lascelles.
"The only one not training is Schar. Ciaran Clark’s training as well.
"At the moment, we’re OK, because we were badly affected."
