Paul Dummett is closing in on a return to action for Newcastle United, according to The Athletic's Chris Waugh.
The lowdown
Dummett is yet to feature for the Magpies this term, having sustained a calf injury in pre-season before he was hit with a 'setback' in the latter part of Steve Bruce's tenure.
He started 14 Premier Leagues games in 2020/21, averaging 4.7 clearances (second in Newcastle's squad), 2.6 successful aerial duels (fourth overall) and 1.1 tackles (joint-second) per 90 minutes (via WhoScored).
The 30-year-old's £35,000-per-week contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
The latest
Waugh was asked by a fan in a Q&A for The Athletic on Monday what was 'happening' with Dummett, and even whether the Welshman could be 'forced to retire' - a scenario the player himself had considered following prolonged spells of injury anguish.
The journalist replied: "It has been a frustrating few months for Paul Dummett, who continues to be ravaged by injury problems.
"However, he did return to the grass last week and the indications I've received are that he could be in contention for selection within a matter of weeks, if not potentially even days. He suffered a calf problem during pre-season and then unfortunately had a setback during Bruce's final few weeks, but he is closing in on a return.
"However, given his lack of action in recent months, and how susceptible he is to injuries, it may take him a little bit of time to get fully up to speed."
The verdict
Mercifully for the struggling Magpies, the injury list is pretty thin at the moment. Dummett and Dwight Gayle are the only fitness-related absentees, and the latter is closing in on a return too (via Premier Injuries).
The Welshman said around this time last year that a prolonged spell on the sidelines had led him to contemplate retirement, so it feels vital that Newcastle manage his reintegration properly to avoid him breaking down again.
In the words of Steve Bruce, he's a 'terrific' player who heads 'everything' away when he's on form. The 30-year-old' statistics back up his former manager's comments,
In other news, Newcastle are desperate to sign this midfielder