Newcastle United handed unlikely quadruple injury boost v Liverpool - but concern over key duo

Newcastle United are set to be handed a quadruple injury boost for the visit of Liverpool to St James’ Park on Saturday night (kick-off 5:30pm).

In photos posted by the Magpies today (Wednesday, February 15), attacking duo Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron were captured in training, despite being forced to withdraw in the latter stages of the 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth last weekend.

Almiron took a blow to his hand, while Saint-Maximin fell awkwardly when challenging for a header. Speaking after the game, head coach Eddie Howe was hopeful neither player had sustained a lasting injury, and that appears to be the case.

Club captain Jamaal Lascelles was also back in training after missing the visit to the South Coast due to personal reasons. Meanwhile, in a surprise boost, Javier Manquillo has trained for the first time in three weeks after a knee injury saw the full-back travel to Spain for injections.

In potentially not-so-good news, Callum Wilson wasn’t spotted in the training gallery after the striker missed the trip to his former club due to a minor hamstring injury. Asked if Wilson could return against Liverpool, Howe said: “Yes, possibly. He could be. It’s not a big injury, it’s a very minor one. Potentially he could.”

There was no sighting of Joe Willock either, who Howe admitted he was most concerned about after the former Arsenal midfielder was forced off in the 35th minute at the Vitality Stadium with a hamstring issue.

Howe said last Friday that Matt Targett was “very close” to a return to full training, however also wasn’t pictured. Emil Krafth, as supporters know, is unlikely to play against this season after sustaining an ACL injury last August.

Newcastle will be without Bruno Guimaraes against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension.