Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock has suffered a fresh injury setback ahead of his side's clash with Leicester City on Saturday.
This will come as positive news for Ruud van Nistelrooy's side with Willock being a key cog in a brief return to form for the Magpies last month. The 25-year-old put in impressive displays in wins over Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in the league as well as a cup victory over Chelsea.
He missed the majority of last season through injury but, since missing the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in September, Willock has featured in every game up until the 4-2 defeat to Brentford last time out.
"I don’t think it’s serious. He’s had a hamstring problem, a very minor one," boss Eddie Howe said after the loss at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Willock's potential omission from the game against the Foxes could prove crucial to the way proceedings pan out. The former Arsenal player has brought some much-needed competition and a different option to the Magpies midfield.
"His ability to run box-to-box quickly, his ability to sense where the ball is and run. That’s Joe at his best," Howe continued.
"I was really pleased to see it because he’s been a big miss for us. He adds a totally different feel to our midfield and he’s a goal threat."
The meeting at St James's Park promises to be an exciting encounter as two teams in quite different scenarios face off against each other.
Leicester lie 16th in the league and only six points below Newcastle in 12th. Still yet to lose, Foxes boss van Nistelrooy has had a lot of joy in his first two games in charge of the Foxes, beating West Ham United 3-1 in his first before coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Brighton and Hove Albion in his second.
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