Newcastle United hope to welcome back some key players from injury in the next week or so.
Speaking to the media ahead of Thursday's Premier League away trip to Everton, Magpies' head coach Eddie Howe confirmed Nick Pope will be sidelined for around four months with a dislocated shoulder.
Pope sustained the problem in the latter stages of the 1-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday, which will require surgery after taking the advice of specialists.
“He’s had a couple of appointments visiting specialists," Howe told reporters. "I’m awaiting final news on what's going to happen but we anticipate he’ll be operated on. There's no doubt he needs an operation so he'll be out for a period of time.
"The operation hasn’t happened yet but we're thinking roughly around four months. A big blow for us but one we expected after the game. As soon as we saw the dislocation, we were fearing the worst."
While Pope and several other Newcastle players remain sidelined for the foreseeable, Howe hinted at some returning ahead of fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and AC Milan on Wednesday.
Howe said: "We hope so. Difficult to give a definitive answer but we hope so. No one is training with the group at the moment but there are players who are very close."
1. Fabian Schar - hamstring
Schar felt tightness in his hamstring against Sheffield United, which forced him to withdraw at half-time. Possible return date: Burnley (A) 04/05. | Getty Images
2. Sven Botman - ACL
The Dutchman has been ruled out for six to nine months after undergoing surgery on his knee. Possible return date: December 2024. | Getty Images
3. Matt Targett - Achilles
Targett is sidelined for the rest of the season with an Achilles issue having only just returned from four months out. Possible return date: 2024-25 season. | Getty Images
4. Jamaal Lascelles - ACL
Lascelles sustained an ACL injury against West Ham and will be sidelined for six to nine months. Possible return date: December 2024. | AFP via Getty Images