Newcastle United have received a welcome boost ahead of the hectic festive fixture list after head coach Steve McClaren revealed that injured trio Cheick Tiote, Rolando Aarons and Jamaal Lascelles are all nearing returns to action.
Sunday’s clash with Mauricio Pochettino’s high-flying Spurs will come too early for the three Magpies’ stars, who are still a few days away from full-training. However, McClaren is hopeful that they will be fit and available for selection when Newcastle host Aston Villa at St James’ Park on the 19th December.
McClaren is expected to stick with the same XI that earned a stunning 2-0 victory over Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Liverpool side last time out when Newcastle travel to White Hart Lane this weekend.
Speaking to The Chronicle, the Englishman said:
“Squad-wise we are the same as we were last weekend.
“Tiote is a couple of days away – Aarons also.
“Lascelles is out on the grass.”
The return of talented England u20 international Rolando Aarons is sure to excite fans who have been desperate to see the young winger get a sustained run in the Newcastle side ever since he exploded onto the scene with a bang last season.
Unfortunately for Aarons, a series of niggling injuries have confined him to the treatment table for a majority of the last calendar year, hindering his startling ascension through the Magpies’ ranks.
However, with French winger Florian Thauvin floundering and Newcastle eyeing January reinforcements, the former Bristol City youngster will be desperate to put his injury woes behind him and nail down a place in McClaren’s first team squad over the coming months.
