Newcastle United’s response to Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes & Co World Cup return question

Newcastle United are prearing to welcome back their World Cup stars following their exits from the competition last week.

Fabian Schar’s Switzerland were beaten 6-1 by Portugal at the last 16 stage before Bruno Guimaraes’ Brazil suffered a shock quarter-final exit to Croatia on penalties.

Then, England’s heartbreaking defeat to world champions France on Saturday means the Magpies have no players left in Qatar with Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Nick Pope returning home.

When United’s international stars will report to the club’s Benton HQ is not yet confirmed, with head coach Eddie Howe ready to take each player’s case on a individual basis.

“I think we’ll take it on an individual basis because it’s a difficult one to predict,” Howe explained in Riyadh last week. “Of course, we don’t know how long the players will stay involved in the World Cup so that has a bearing.

“Then, the individual player, how much football they’ve played at World Cup could potentially have a bearing.

“Speaking to all the players, I know they’re very keen to come back and join us very quickly but of course, we have to have the balance right. We don’t want to fatigue players mentally probably more than physically going into the second half of the season.

“At some stage, we will probably need to give them a break. When that is, I don’t know.”

The Magpies resume their campaign against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup in nine days’ time before the Premier League season recommences when Howe’s men face Leicester City on Boxing Day in exactly two weeks.