£5m man returns to Newcastle – but for how long isn’t clear

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Finally, Newcastle United stars are returning for pre-season.

After such a wonderful campaign last time out, attention has turned to how Eddie Howe and his coaching staff improve on that.

Newcastle are set for a local game against Gateshead next week before they play Rangers in Glasgow three days later, with a tour of the United States to come.

While not every player is back at the club’s Benton training base, those not involved in the international games towards the end of last season have returned.

One of those, however, might not be around long-term…

Emil Krafth returns to pre-season training – but for how long is unclear

Indeed, Emil Krafth was pictured by the club’s official Twitter account reporting for duty.

The Sweden international missed pretty much the whole of last season as a result of a knee injury suffered during a Carabao Cup game against Tranmere in August.

Though it’s of course nice to see the £5m man back to something approaching full fitness, it’s unclear as to how long he will be around.

Only last month, The Athletic claimed the club are yet to make a decision on his future despite the fact he only signed a one-year contract extension in 2022.

Since his injury, Newcastle have signed Harrison Ashby and made bids to bring Tino Livramento to St James’ Park from Southampton, both of whom represent younger back-ups to Kieran Trippier.

If there’s interest in Krafth, Newcastle should sell up

Like so many, Krafth hardly covered himself in glory during the Steve Bruce years.

Still, he impressed after Trippier’s injury during the start of 2022 and to have seen him ruled out for so long was bitterly disappointing.

However, the club are said to want to move players on and they cannot afford to be sentimental.

The interest in Livramento would suggest they are not happy with their options at right-back behind Trippier, which hardly makes for good reading from Krafth’s perspective.

If any interest emerges this summer, it would be wise to sell up.