Jonjo Shelvey hopes to get more minutes in the bank against Norwich City at St James' Park today.
The Newcastle United midfielder has been missing for all but 30 minutes of pre-season after he made a substitute appearance against Burnley during the 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor earlier this week.
Shelvey was a regular last season and got through the campaign with few issues as he played 32 times.
If Shelvey can match that sort of tally or better it this term he will have clocked up more than 200 appearances for the club since arriving from Swansea City in 2016.
The midfielder usually likes to start his preparations for pre-season and has worked hard in Portugal with personal trainers in previous summers.
However, this year he worked at the training ground long before other players returned only to pick up an unfortunate calf injury.
Speaking to NUFC TV, Shelvey said: "I always seem to run more during the off-season to try and come back in the best shape possible, and I was running at the training ground on the astroturf, and my calf popped and I ripped a tendon in my calf.
"It’s been frustrating. I’ve missed most of pre-season, but it’s good to be back now."
Steve Bruce has previously spoken about the man he entrusted as vice-captain last season during Jamaal Lascelles' injury.
He said: "He's a very good footballer and when he plays well the team play well - it's quite simple.
"He is very important to us, of course, he is."
