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- The two players have had no ill effects after their returns from long-term injuries, and the Magpies could also have Ryan Fraser back in contention
NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has revealed Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier are desperate to be handed Newcastle United starts against Arsenal on Monday night.
However, the Magpies鈥� head coach is giving no clues away about his starting XI selections.
Wilson and Trippier both returned to the fold last time out against Manchester City, getting 20-minute cameos under their belts after four and two-and-a-half months out respectively.
Having suffered no ill effects from their Etihad exertions, both are said to be champing at the bit to be let loose against the Champions League-chasing Gunners.
鈥淚 think both players would say they are very keen to start,鈥� said Howe. 鈥淢y job is to make sure I鈥檓 doing the best, not just for the individual, but also for the team as well.
鈥淲e have to make sure that they鈥檙e fit enough to last a long period in the game because obviously I don鈥檛 want to be making too many changes too early in the match, which would unbalance the team.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e also slightly different; you can鈥檛 group them together and say they鈥檙e at the same stage. Wilson has done more training work than Trippier, although of course he sustained a more serious injury.
鈥淲e鈥檒l make a decision based on their training week as to whether they鈥檙e ready to start the game on Monday.鈥�
While the narrative at Newcastle United at present is very much about new beginnings, this summer will also bring to an end some long associations with the football club as incomings and outgoings sweep through the ranks in the off season.
The likes of Matt Ritchie, Ciaran Clark, Dwight Gayle and Isaac Hayden, all signed in the summer of 2016 when United were aiming for promotion from the Championship, are likely to be heading out the door.
The same can probably be said of Federico Fernandez, Jamal Lewis, Karl Darlow and others.
So will Monday be looked upon as a farewell for many?
鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to speak about individuals, but I鈥檓 sure for some of my players, it may well be an emotional experience,鈥� Howe said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very much in the mindset that we have to be very appreciative of everybody鈥檚 efforts to our success this season in terms of the position we were in to where we are now. Everyone has played their part in that, whether they have participated on the pitch or not.
鈥淚 look at Clark, Hayden and Lewis, who were not in the 25-man squad, but their attitude to that disappointment has been incredible,鈥� said Howe. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e still training with the group, and they鈥檝e not been negative or disappointed for a moment. It鈥檚 important that I highlight that because we haven鈥檛 achieved anything as individuals. It鈥檚 been the collective group that鈥檚 done it and full credit to everyone.鈥�
Meanwhile, Howe has revealed an injury boost ahead of tomorrow night鈥檚 encounter with the news that Ryan Fraser will likely be available for selection.
鈥淔raser returned to training, which is great to see. He trained very well, so fingers crossed he鈥檚 fine,鈥� said Howe.
While the Scotland international鈥檚 fitness is on an upward trajectory, that鈥檚 not the case for everyone in the squad.
鈥淛onjo [Shelvey] has quite a serious calf injury, similar to the one he sustained at the start of the season,鈥� said Howe.
鈥淗e鈥檒l be out for a period of time, but we expect him back before pre-season with no problems. It鈥檒l be the same for Joe Willock; he鈥檚 had an issue with a tendon in his knee for a while. We thought we sorted the problem, but it鈥檚 come back so he needs a period of rest. He鈥檚 had a couple of injections in his knee, and we anticipate he鈥檒l be fine for pre-season.
鈥淔ernandez has had a slight Achilles problem.鈥�
Mikel Arteta is expected to welcome back central defenders Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes at St. James鈥� Park but will continue to be without Thomas Partey through injury and the suspended Rob Holding.