Newcastle United provide Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin illness update ahead of Fulham

Eddie Howe has provided an update on Newcastle United pair Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin after their recent illnesses.

Both players have been forced to miss matches in recent weeks. Wilson was left out of the 3-0 win at Leicester City on Boxing Day and was later rested for the FA Cup exit to Sheffield Wednesday.

Saint-Maximin also missed the 2-1 defeat at Hillsborough, though the duo did return to play a part in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Leicester on Tuesday.

Wilson started and Saint-Maximin was on the bench, and Howe admitted after the game the Frenchman was still feeling the effects of his illness.

But ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at home to Fulham, Howe confirmed the 25-year-old is back to full health.

“Maxi came on [against Leicester] and I thought he did very well,” Howe said. “He’s fine.”

On Wilson, who played 75 minutes against the Foxes before being replaced by club-record signing Alexander Isak, Howe said: “The game the other day, I decided to replace Callum as we nurse him back from illness. I thought Callum and Alex did well, both players are looking good.”

Howe is set to have a full squad to choose from for the visit of Marco Silva’s Cottagers, excluding Matt Targett (heel), Jonjo Shelvey (calf) and Emil Krafth (ACL).

The 45-year-old said: “Matt Targett and Jonjo Shelvey continue their journeys back. I think they are both respectively doing well but they are still some time away.

“Apart from that, I think we are pretty much OK. We’ve got a lot of loan players who have picked up injuries out and about. Matty Longstaff has just had his operation on his ACL, so we wish him well.”