Newcastle United will start their Champions League campaign against Barcelona at St James’ Park on September 18th.
Earlier this week, we covered claims from Spain explaining concerns that Hansi Flick has about Barcelona’s performances so far this season, and that he’s pushing for aggressive pressing and defensive stability ahead of the Magpies clash.
Friday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo looks at potential fitness and injury concerns for the La Liga winners for their upcoming fixtures, including Newcastle.
Barcelona have already seen their players return from international duty and among them, Frenkie de Jong only one to remain on the sidelines as he picked up an injury while with the Netherlands.
The midfielder featured in Oranje’s 1-1 draw against Poland and then missed the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania because of a setback.
According to the newspaper, the former Ajax man suffered a ‘minor injury to the external obturator muscle in his right leg’ and this could force him to miss Barcelona’s league tie against Valencia on Sunday, but perhaps not the one against Newcastle next week.
Mundo report the 28-year-old, who started in two league games this season, is ‘confident of returning’ to face Eddie Howe’s side next Thursday and has already trained on grass, without touching the ball.
Brazil’s Raphinha and Uruguay’s Ronald Araújo were in action until Tuesday morning and returned to Barcelona yesterday, and the South American duo were then in the gym for ‘specific treatment’ following their long trips back to Spain.
At Newcastle, their immediate focus will be on facing Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday.