Carlos Carvalhal says it will be later in the week before he knows whether Fernando Forestieri is fit to face Brentford on Saturday.
The striker failed to appear for the second half against Fulham on Saturday, after suffering a hamstring injury, and Carvalhal is clearly keen to ensure the player is fully fit before returning to action.
The head coach explained that Forestieri – along with other ‘transfer window’ signings in Barry Bannan, Daniel Pudil and Michael Turner – had played little competitive football in the weeks leading up to their moves and then some of them were suddenly playing a clutch of games in a short space of time.
With Forestieri, this resulted in Saturday’s problem, and Carvalhal explained that the players need to be looked after, especially as the Newcastle game could go to 120 minutes.
Carvalhal also said that up to three players could go out on loan in the near future, adding: “For those players it will be better for them and for us.”