Newcastle United player makes return - less than a week after Eddie Howe confirmed injury

Newcastle United right-back Harrison Ashby has made a return to training after recovering from a minor hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old joined from West Ham United on January transfer deadline day but is yet to be named in the Magpies’ matchday squad.

Ashby arrived on Tyneside short of match fitness and sharpness having made just two senior appearances this season - both coming in the Europa Conference League.

Eddie Howe confirmed on Friday that Ashby had suffered a setback, with a hamstring issue meaning “he hasn’t trained with the group for a few weeks.”

But it appears the Milton Keynes-born defender has returned to training this week after being spotted by the Sky Sports News cameras.

North East reporter Keith Downie did a live piece to camera from the club’s Benton training base on Tuesday morning, and Ashby was on the grass with some of his teammates.

The players who started Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park underwent work in the gym, though substitutes such as match-winner Miguel Almiron trained outside as normal.

Howe is preparing his side for Friday night’s clash at Nottingham Forest. A win at the City Ground will see United move within one point of fourth place Tottenham Hotspur before their Saturday kick-off away to Southampton.

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