Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff was not risked in the 2-1 win over Barnsley due to a slight injury.
The midfielder - who signed a new contract with the club in pre-season - has suffered the recurrence of a the thigh problem that kept him out of a clutch of matches towards the end of last term.
Longstaff is now working with the physios and it remains to be seen whether he will feature in the remaining two friendly games against Middlesbrough, at Rockcliffe tomorrow, or Stoke City at St James' Park on Saturday.
Longstaff will soon re-enter an intense battle for midfield places along with new signing Jeff Hendrick, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and his older brother Sean.
Steve Bruce turned to Henri Saivet on Saturday in the narrow win over the Tykes as the Senegal international was handed minutes in the second half.
Saivet knows he has no future on Tyneside and United are trying to find him a club for the new season.
There has been tentative interest from Turkey and France but Saivet's £35,000 per week wages are proving to be difficult.
But Bruce has already described Saivet as a "great professional" and will continue to let him maintain fitness with the Toon squad for now.
