Newcastle United fresh injury blow v Nottingham Forest & Liverpool but £40m star 'not far away'

Newcastle United could welcome back Joelinton for the Boxing Day clash at home to Nottingham Forest (kick-off 12:30pm).

The Brazilian picked up a hamstring injury in the first-half of United's 3-0 win over Fulham, which has forced him to miss the Carabao Cup exit to Chelsea and the 1-0 defeat to Luton Town on Saturday.

Fabian Schar, who suffered a glute issue in the same game, returned for the visit to Kenilworth Road. And Joelinton is the closest player to making his come back.

“I’m not 100 per-cent sure, he is not far away," United boss Eddie Howe told NewcastleWorld. "We want to get the right decision."

But as is the case with Newcastle's season so far, when one player returns, another is lost. And that could be the case surrounding Jamaal Lascelles.

The United skipper has regularly featured in the last few months in Sven Botman's absence but is a doubt for the visit of Forest to St James' Park after withdrawing

Lascelles withdrew in the 37th minute at Kenilworth Road, not long after Andros Townsend's opener proved to be the winner.

Should Lascelles miss out against Forest, Botman is in line to start.

The Dutchman hasn't started a Premier League since the 8-0 win at Sheffield United - United's only away win in the league this season - having spent three months sidelined with a knee injury.

"We wanted to protect Sven and ease him back in," Howe added. "Again, it was good minutes for him and I thought he did well when he came on."

After Forest, Newcastle travel to Liverpool on New Year's Day.