Tottenham still have large number of players sidelined but Eddie Howe could be boosted by some positive news
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon crosses the ball past Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon is close a return but Tottenham's Pedro Porro is out
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If Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has been unlucky with the injuries that have hit his squad this season, then Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank must be wondering what he has done to deserve such a lengthy absentee list.
The Magpies head to Spurs for this evening's Premier League game without some important players, but also hoping that two in particular will soon return to the first-team squad.
Both clubs are not where they would want to be in the league, with United's 3-2 defeat to Brentford on Saturday night leaving them an alarming 10 points behind fifth-placed Chelsea and facing a huge battling to make it into the Champions League places.
Newcastle are in the middle of another testting run of fixtures, but must starting picking up points before it's too late, starting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight.
Howe is waiting on updates on the fitness of two important players, with Anthony Gordon and Lews Miley close to a return. Gordon missed the defeat to Brentford with a hamstring problem, but could return tonight, or against Aston Villa in the FA Cup next weekend.
Miley has been out for several games with a knee injury, but after some rest, is now on the verge of a comeback.
Their return would be a huge boost, with several players ruled out for a forseeable future. Midfielder Joelinton is perhaps the closest to a return, with his groin injury keeping him out for a little while longer.
Tino Livramento has been a huge miss, but the England full-back is not likely to be back from a hamstring strain until March, while centre-back Fabian Schar will have to wait until April to return from a knee injury.
Emil Krafth has been missing since November with a knee problem, but there is no return date set for the versatile Swedish defender.
The situation for Spurs is even worse, and not helped by a four-match ban for captain Cristian Romero after he was sent off for a late tackle on Casemiro in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last weekend. It was the Argentine's sixth red card of his Tottenham career.
Frank has several long-term absentees, led by creative forward James Maddison. The former England man is unlikely to play this season after injuring his knee in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle.
Dejan Kulusevski is another who may not feature this term as he recovers from ACL surgery, while midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will have to wait until the final weeks of the season to return after a thigh injury.
Spurs were dealt a big blow when summer signing Mohammed Kudus was ruled out until April with a thigh problem, and fellow forward Richarlison joins him on the treatment table as he recovers from another thigh injury.
At the back, Ben Davies has had ankle surgery which will keep him out until April, and Destiny Udogie will miss the next month with a thigh injury.
Full-backs Djed Spence (calf) and Pedro Porro (thigh) have been a big miss, although Spence could return this evening, while Porro is out for a few more weeks.
Austria international centre-back Kevin Danso remains out with an ankle problem, and young Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall won't play until April as he deals with an ankle injury.
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