Eddie Howe names the Newcastle United player who won’t start against Tottenham Hotspur

Jonjo Shelvey is edging closer to full fitness - but he’s unlikely to start for Newcastle United against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Magpies midfielder is yet to feature in this Premier League campaign having only just returned to the matchday squad after undergoing hamstring surgery in August.

Shelvey was an unused substitute during the goalless draw at Manchester United and the 1-0 victory over Everton at St James’ Park on Wednesday night.

A knee injury to Joelinton has opened up a spot in Howe’s three-man midfield, however the United head coach is set to opt against risking the former England international.

Howe explained: "Well, he’s involved. Is he ready to start the game? Probably not, at this moment in time. That’s where he is.

“He’s building his training load, he’s building his robustness. What we don’t want to do is get right to the end of his time back, push him too early and then he breaks down.

“We wanted him involved with the squad for his leadership, for his experience, to help the guys in every way that he knows that he can while he’s not on the pitch. But he’s getting closer all the time and he’ll be training with the group today."

Joe Willock is in line to get the nod should Joelinton definitely miss the game in North London. The former Arsenal midfielder had started every game this term but has only been fit enough to make the bench against Man United and Everton due to illness.

"He’s not fully over it, or he wasn’t around the Everton game,” Howe said. “He was still feeling a little under the weather. I’d love to think with a few more days he’ll be getting closer to 100 per cent."

Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff, it seems, will start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I’m really pleased with Sean,” Howe said during Friday’s press conference. “When we came in, I was immediately hit with a lovely lad, a really good character - Newcastle through and through, he loves the club, wanted the club to do really well. And obviously he had his own individual aims and ambitions - to nail down a starting spot in the team and really contribute.

“I’ve loved working with him and I really enjoy our relationship. For me, he’s improved a lot of aspects of his game and he’s worked hard on different bits in and our of possession. I really love him athletically - he gets around the pitch brilliantly, up and down, and you can see the ground that he covers every week - incredible distances. But he’s also got a creative eye around the box and he’s been integral to some really good play on that right-hand side of the pitch.”