Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey may be 'ahead of schedule' in his injury recovery, according to injury expert Ben Dinnery.
The lowdown
Shelvey has yet to play for the Magpies this season after undergoing hamstring injury back in August, but Eddie Howe revealed last week that he's back on the grass at Darsley Park.
It's a crucial season for the 30-year-old, who must convince the club of his worthiness for a new contract ahead of the expiry of his current deal in June.
He currently features on an injury list that also includes Karl Darlow (ankle), Elliott Anderson (niggle), Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin (both thigh) and Emil Krafth (ACL).
The latest
Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery suggested that Shelvey may now be on course to return before the World Cup in November.
He says it could still be another month and a half before the Englishman is back in action, particularly as Newcastle will likely exercise caution.
But there's no denying that it would be a 'massive bonus' for Eddie Howe and Newcastle if he was to make an early comeback.
“The initial timeline suggested that we could be looking at about 12 weeks.
“That’s a realistic assumption with this sort of injury. It appears that he might be ahead of schedule, however.
“The initial timeline might have seen him held back until after the World Cup break. But now, the aim is certainly going to be before that break.
“Realistically, even though he is back on the training pitches, it could be another four to six weeks. We know hamstring problems are prone to re-injury.
“You don’t really know how a player will respond to an increased workload until they are in the thick of it. The road to recovery is never straight. There are always bumps along the way.
“We know Howe is a massive, massive fan of Shelvey. You can argue that they are missing someone like that at the moment, someone who can unlock doors with his range of passing.
“If he was to return before the end of November, that would be a massive bonus for Newcastle.”
The verdict
With Callum Wilson due to return after the international break, this represents more good news on the injury front for Newcastle.
£70,000-per-week man Shelvey can make an impact at both ends of the pitch, ranking in the 77th percentile among central midfielders in the big five leagues for shots per 90 and the 74th for clearances (via FBRef).
The Athletic's Chris Waugh concurs with Dinnery's assessment, describing Shelvey as a 'huge' miss for Newcastle after the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the weekend.
Indeed, journalist Andrew Musgrove has accused alternative midfield options Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff of 'not stepping up' so far this season.