Newcastle United welcomed Javier Manquillo back to training as Yoshinori Muto and Dwight Gayle hope to offer Steve Bruce a striker alternative.
United full-back Manquillo, who was in good form before he was ruled out through injury during the January 1 clash with Leicester, returned to training on Wednesday.
And Muto and Gayle were also put through their paces – with morning reports claiming Bruce is considering handing his former number nine a start at former club Crystal Palace. Muto, who has been missing since the FA Cup third round trip to Rochdale, could be on the bench as Bruce looks for ways to get his team firing again.
Bruce opted not to play either at Arsenal with question marks over their fitness.
There was no Ciaran Clark, who looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines, and Andy Carroll and Jonjo Shelvey were also missing. Bruce admitted to frustration that Carroll had been missing since the start of January, with the club unable to get to the bottom of his injury problem.
Newcastle head to South London this weekend looking to improve their recent form. Although they were unbeaten in eight games before Sunday’s loss at Arsenal, they have also won only one of their last eight in the Premier League.
