Report suggests that £25m Newcastle star could now return to action against Fulham

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is probably fairly used to not having a full squad to pick from at this point given last season's injury woes.

Indeed, the gaffer started this season with three players missing in Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman who aren't due back until Christmas and Lewis Miley who could return to training next month.

Another player who perhaps wasn't quite 100% at the start of the season after missing a huge chunk of the last campaign was the £25 million former Arsenal man Joe Willock.

The dynamic midfielder made an explosive return to action in the League Cup game against Nottingham Forest scoring after just 18 seconds but having to go off injured just 15 minutes later.

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Initial assessment of Joe Willock's injury didn't look good

After the game Eddie Howe hinted that the injury didn't look good leaving media and fans to wonder if it was an aggravation of his achilles problem which kept him out of action for so long last season.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a thigh issue which was scanned and revealed to not be as bad as first feared.

Joe Willock posted a video to his Instagram reels showing him sprinting with the ball at his feet as he gears up to return to full training, with The Northern Echo suggesting that he could be ready to make his comeback on 21st September in the game against Fulham.

Eddie Howe is close to having a full midfield to choose from

Given how we were all worried that Willock could be out long-term again, a couple of weeks is a pretty positive result.

With Lewis Miley also due back next month, Eddie Howe is soon to have the good kind of selection headache that he so rarely had last season.

Keeping the core players of the squad fit is going to be crucial this season after such a poor transfer window, but if our better players can stay fit then there's no reason why Newcastle can't push for top four.