Steve Bruce has insisted there is no pressure on Andy Carroll to rush back from his ankle injury.
But even though Carroll may not be available until September, the Newcastle United head coach feels he is already having a positive impact at the club's Benton base.
Carroll has spent most of the summer recovering from an ankle injury and worked at West Ham's training centre even after being released by the Hammers.
However, he is now back in familiar hands with the United back-room team who already have in-depth knowledge of his injury history and how to get him back on to the pitch.
Bruce said: "He's doing a bit of running.
"We still think he could be four or five weeks away, although I think really we should not put a timescale on him.
"He'll be ready and fit when he is ready.
"Timescales can leave him and everybody else disappointed.
"I am sure he will be able to play a big part, then hopefully he stays all right and he will with us in a few weeks."
Bruce took an interesting step this week at the training ground and held a meeting for all of his forward players.
Carroll was a big part of that exchange and impressed his team-mates and Bruce with his input.
Bruce said: "It's only been a week since he walked through the door.
"The other day we had a meeting with the strikers and he had his say.
"The other players in the canteen all want to be around him.
"They are looking to feed off his experience.
"He has know-how and knows exactly what Newcastle is about.
"All of that can only be a positive.
"The biggest positive of all is seeing him back on the training ground because if we can get the lad fit we know he is a smashing player as well."
