Steve Bruce has given his press conference ahead of the Arsenal match on Sunday. There is a fresh injury concern regarding Matt Ritchie who has picked up a calf injury. However, he has not been ruled out just yet.
This is what Bruce said about Ritchie’s injury as published on Newcastle’s Twitter account:
“We’ve got a slight doubt about Matt Ritchie. He’s got a bit of a calf injury but we think he’s going to be OK [for Sunday]. Apart from that – everybody else has come through Liverpool alright.”
It appears that Ritchie should be ok for this weekend. However, if he isn’t, Jamal Lewis will be itching to get back into the team after not playing in the last seven matches.
Other than Ritchie there have been no new injuries or setbacks. With Fabian Schar playing a half for the U23s this week, he looks to be ready to return to the squad. Though he doesn’t appear to be a candidate to break into the starting eleven just yet.
Here is Bruce’s update on the Swiss defender:
“It was always part of his rehabilitation [to play for the U23s]. Fab wants to be involved straight away and he might make the squad but we have to be careful because he’s been out for nearly 11 weeks. He’s trained well and he’s there or thereabouts.”
If Fabian is available that will just leave Jamaal Lascelles, Isaac Hayden, Karl Darlow, and Ryan Fraser ruled out. According to Bruce, both Darlow (knee) and Fraser (groin) have undergone successful surgeries and may be back in just a couple of weeks. Joe Willock is also unavailable to play against his parent club.
Bruce has also given an update on Callum Wilson, who looked in fine form at Liverpool last weekend. The striker had been held back in training over the past few weeks. Therefore Bruce had kept him out of the starting lineup since his return from his hamstring injury.
Bruce now seems more inclined to get Wilson back into his starting eleven. That’s no surprise at all after watching Callum at Anfield. Here is what Bruce had to say about his star striker:
“I think he’s ready [to start]. We’ve waited patiently which was important. The more confident you get with a hamstring that you can get to full pace is important & the way he burst through against Liverpool was typical Callum. I think he’s ready.”
Newcastle have been ultra-cautious with Callum over the past few weeks and it’s ended up being the right decision. This Sunday seems like the right time to unleash both Saint-Maximin and Wilson from the start against the Gunners.
***Just a reminder that this blog will not be posting any articles on Twitter or Facebook starting at 3 PM today until 11:59 PM on Monday. We will do our best to continue writing articles as normal as well as covering the Arsenal match on Sunday.
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From 3pm today until 11.59pm on Monday, 3rd May, we are joining other clubs, organisations and sports to boycott social media and demand change.#StopOnlineAbuse
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 30, 2021
85 comments so far
Adamn_92
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:18 PM
Comment #41Arbitration is a mess in terms of what stage it’s at. We’ve been told by numerous people/reports that it was starting in a week or two a couple of months ago, it’s already underway, it’s already finished, it’ll be finished in a week or so, been given numerous dates it’ll start and be done by, Caulkin said it hasn’t started yet and people disputed that, just what the hell is going on with it?
Mund
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:18 PM
Comment #42Nobody will know about arbitration but those involved and I doubt very highly anything will get leaked
Mund
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:19 PM
Comment #43Newcastle Consortium Supporters
@NCSL1892
NCSL will release factual information once approvals given. Until this happens we remain positive that great efforts are being made to press the takeover in an atmosphere of mistrust of those running our game. We won’t be active during social media blackoutZebra #NUFC #NUFCTakeover
Mund
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:20 PM
Comment #44All guess work as they don’t have a scooby doo
geordietom
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:21 PM
Comment #45TIN …
i dont think they know what it means mate , typical of the Chronicle .
Just a Fat Dave Bassett
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:21 PM
Comment #46I was going to say the same thing this morning Tinman about links. My wifi is slow as well, so I’ll often turn my music off, to wait 15 seconds only to see something I have absolutely no interest in. Especially with the music links, a small summary would be useful so you know whether it’s something to your taste.
lochinvar
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:22 PM
Comment #47We were chatting last night about retirement.
Someone asked if I’d a special present for the wife.
I have.
She can use the Season Ticket if I’m playing golf.
Mund
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:24 PM
Comment #48Loch
😆 I thought you are supposed to be treating her not punishing her 😉
Wor B
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:27 PM
Comment #49Loch
She won the lottery the day she married you.
🙂
geordietom
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:29 PM
Comment #50I think with the court case regarding the takeover that they will have tons and tons of paper work to look at ( evidence ) . i also think ( hope ) that De marco and the other lawyers have put the points over regarding the takeover . there will be a lot of toing and froing both sets of lawyers doing their jobs so hopefully they are nearly at the end of it and it comes out in our favor …
geordietom
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:30 PM
Comment #51their points*
Jail for Ashley
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:32 PM
Comment #52We’ll know the status of the takeover when Bruce gets his eight year deal.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:36 PM
Comment #53The page system is bad when you’re somewhere with slow WiFi
Wor B
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:37 PM
Comment #54TheTinman, JaFDB
Under no circumstances click this link…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_-q9xeOgG4
carltoon
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Comment #55I see Sky have now attributed the SBR poem they’re running, to hm now, I’m sure they had a few complaints, taking his fantastic words, not that he would have minded, they encompass everything that’s good in the game, against what’s going on now
Mund
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:40 PM
Comment #56We will know when we are supposed to know and the quieter it all is the better it is IMO
Since the O&D tests and the dramas that followed im glad everything is kept under wraps.
carltoon
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:41 PM
Comment #57I think it as !o h that mentioned the tv advertising the run in of the Pl, using SBR poem, I’ve not seen it.
carltoon
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:43 PM
Comment #58I think it was LOCH. Anyway what a great present. I would appreciate it though most women wouldn’t.
Adamn_92
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:46 PM
Comment #59We’ll know the abritration outcome when DeMarco either posts a celebration cake or a deflated soufflé
carltoon
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:47 PM
Comment #60WorB of course clicked on it .
Just a fan
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:48 PM
Comment #61Wor b
Thanks I didn’t.
Ron Knee
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:50 PM
Comment #62Agassi on reading Becker’s serve:
https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/1387758939534675972
geordietom
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:50 PM
Comment #63WORB …
i clicked on your link and it took me to a porno site …
Romford mag
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:50 PM
Comment #64Wor
Always mate 🙂
Wor B
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:51 PM
Comment #65Haha
I wonder if PrestonMag clicked on it?
Wor B
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:53 PM
Comment #66GT
Think you need to clear your cache/browser history mate.
😉
geordietom
Apr 30, 2021 at 12:58 PM
Comment #67WOR…
not my browser that needs clearing you put the link on mate 😀
Wor B
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Comment #68Ron
Haha, thanks for sharing!
Rotonda heights
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:07 PM
Comment #69It’s a lovely friendship that AS and IW have. Great respect for both and what better example to break down barriers.
lesh
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:07 PM
Comment #70Cleveleysbob
Thanks for your kind words. Rest assured that my cold or whatever won’t stop me loving Bojo and his sychophantic chums.
😉
lesh
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:09 PM
Comment #71Rotonda heights
You’re so right about Shearer and Wrighty. They seem chime, feed off each and most importantly respect oneanother as footballers and human beings.
geordietom
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:09 PM
Comment #72Lesh …
I had my second jab last week ive not had any side effects at all which vaccine did you have ?
geordietom
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:11 PM
Comment #73https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-handed-supporter-boost-20501139
for the game at fulham
carltoon
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:15 PM
Comment #74RH, that’s so true, they’ve been mates for years, i love watching them, they crack each other up, it’s a terrible thing what Wrighty has to go through on a daily basis.
Just a fan
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:21 PM
Comment #75I like to listen to wrighty now but when he was a player he was a bit of a tw&t and not just on the pitch either. Nasty even.
lochinvar
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:26 PM
Comment #76Carltoon
She’s never been ( tragic). But I think I might persuade her for one game at least !
She wants a season ticket for some fella called Bryan Ferry but I’m not having that.
Assassins Inc
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:28 PM
Comment #77Two things about today’s blog chat.
Ian said the kid in Ireland gave him racial abuse, would love to see this kid walk up to say Paul McGrath and do the same thing.
On this weekends game, if Lacazette starts this weekend, he has a good record against The Toon, isolate him and that’s half the battle done. I’m going with Newcastle 3-1.
Mund
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:33 PM
Comment #78JAF
Our very own Alan Shearer had a nasty side to him also. Tempers get raised in the game and it happens.
lesh
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:34 PM
Comment #79geordietom
I’ve had Pfizer. I’m not saying that my cold’s got owt to do with it, it could be nowt more than a cold. But, shaking it off seems imppossible. Maybe I need to get meself a bottle of nice single malt – it beats Lemsip any time of the day.
🙂
cleveleysbob
Apr 30, 2021 at 1:39 PM
Comment #80Lesh, cheers, but don’t fuss, I don’t like him either. 😉