Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce is set to land a timely injury boost, as midfielder Matt Ritchie is closing in on a return to action, according to the Chronicle.
Bruce witnessed five first-team players pick up injuries against Leicester City on New Year’s Day, as Jetro Willems (groin), Javier Manquillo (hamstring), Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) and Fabian Schar (hamstring) were all forced off before DeAndre Yedlin sustained a suspected broken hand.
The boss is also without captain Jamaal Lascelles (fractured tibia), Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring), Ciaran Clark (calf) and Paul Dummett (groin), but could be about to welcome Ritchie back into the fold.
Ritchie has not featured in any competition since Bruce was left fuming at Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury for a “horror challenge”, which left the former Scotland international’s ankle in a mess during our Carabao Cup Second Round encounter last August.
The 30-year-old’s rehabilitation has been thwart with setbacks, with Ritchie first back up and running at Darsley Park in September but soon forced to have an operation to clear the bone around his ankle.
Should Bruce play Ritchie vs Rochdale on Saturday?
Yes, he has to start him
Yes, from the bench
No, he won't be ready
Ritchie could finally now be back involved in a matchday squad when we travel to face Rochdale in the FA Cup on Saturday, though likely only as a substitute.
Bruce will make a decision on his fitness before travelling to Rochdale, with Ritchie understood to have returned to full training this week.
The boss will be without Lascelles, Saint-Maximin and Clark for the cup affair this weekend, though Dummett may feature having also returned to training.
In other Newcastle United news, a Toon forward has come in for a lot of criticism on social media for his horror moment in the second half against Leicester City on New Year’s Day.