Newcastle vs Arsenal Benitez receives three injury boost

Two of Newcastle’s most important player could return to action against Arsenal. Those players are midfielders Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie. Shelvey has been sidelined with a thigh injury, while Ritchie has been out with a knee problem.

Rafa Benitez has revealed the following update on the two Magpies:

We have had Jonjo training, and Ritchie still with the physio, but they are pushing. These two are the kind of players, that you have to stop them, because they want to play and they are working really, really hard to be there.

Benitez says Shelvey [thigh] and Ritchie [knee] are "pushing" to be fit for the game with Arsenal on Saturday. “We have had Jonjo training, and [Matt] is still with the physio, but they're working really, really hard. It’s too soon to say ‘yes’, but I am quite optimistic.”

Benitez says Shelvey [thigh] and Ritchie [knee] are "pushing" to be fit for the game with Arsenal on Saturday. “We have had Jonjo training, and [Matt] is still with the physio, but they're working really, really hard. It’s too soon to say ‘yes’, but I am quite optimistic.” #NUFC

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2:44 PM - 11 Sep 2018

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Florian Lejeune remains a long term absentee for Newcastle. The centre-half is likely to miss the majority of the season with a knee injury. Arsenal also have their own share of long term injury concerns. Those players include Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Laurent Koscielny and Sead Kolasinac.