Newcastle United have been sweating on the fitness of Joe Willock, but it looks like he should be available to face West Ham on Wednesday night.
Willock was forced off against Manchester United at the weekend. He came off in the 84th minute clutching his hamstring, which led to some concern.
Eddie Howe was unsure whether it was a muscle problem or just cramp, but it led to speculation that he might not be involved at the London Stadium.
However, the club have now provided a very encouraging update.
Joe Willock trains ahead of West Ham vs Newcastle
Ahead of Wednesday night’s game in the capital, Newcastle have released a selection of training photos from Tuesday’s session.
Willock is in attendance, which suggests he will be fine to face West Ham in the midweek fixture.
That is a real boost given how well he played against Manchester United. He shook off a couple of misses to score the decisive opener, while his all-round game was impressive.
The 23-year-old is enjoying a rich vein of form, and it could soon lead to international recognition. Willock has spoke openly about his desire to play for England, and another strong showing against West Ham will only strengthen his case.
However, while it looks like Willock is not injured, that does not mean he is a guaranteed starter. He features in our predicted starting lineup, but Howe does have the option to rotate if he wishes.
Joelinton will be eager to get back into the starting XI, while Elliot Anderson will be keen to receive his second ever Premier League start.
Howe has plenty of options ahead of the game at the London Stadium, although it feels likely that he will name an unchanged XI – especially following the news that Willock has been involved in training.
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