Steve Bruce does not believe he has played his strongest Newcastle United team yet.
The Magpies signed Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Jamal Lewis and Jeff Hendrick last summer but the quartet have only started one game together so far and that was against Wolves last month.
However, with Jonjo Shelvey absent and Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff unable to start, Fraser played in a depper role at Molineux alongside Miguel Almiron and Hendrick.
Fraser has yet to start a league game in his favoured role out wide and, having missed the last two fixtures with a hamstring issue, the Scotland international will not feature against Crystal Palace on Friday night.
Jamaal Lascelles is also a doubt for the trip to Selhurst Park, after picking up a knock against Chelsea last time out, but Callum Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie are all be back in contention.
"I haven't played the team that I think is my strongest team yet for whatever reason, whatever injury," Bruce told reporters on a Zoom call.
"We haven't had Jonjo, we haven't had Ryan, we haven't had Callum, we haven't had Miggy. That's a bit unfortunate but we're only nine games in and when we changed against Wolves, it gave us a platform and we did the same against Everton and managed to beat them in that system, too. I'm mindful of the fact that's what we need to do."
Dwight Gayle has also returned to training after suffering a knee injury last summer but the 31-year-old will not be involved against his former club.
Gayle scored four goals in the final eight league games of last season and the striker will certainly give Bruce another option up front to help ease the burden on Wilson.
“He’s trained all week. It’s too early for him tomorrow, unfortunately," Bruce added. "But it’s good to see him back around the group. On either side of lockdown, and certainly at the end [of last season], Dwight Gayle was really instrumental in what we did.
"It will be good to see him back, but we still think he’s another couple of weeks away yet."
