Newcastle United’s back-room team feel that Islam Slimani may have an outside chance of being on the bench for the game against Huddersfield Town, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claim that this is the belief of the Magpies back-room staff, despite the 29-year-old forward being yet to take part in any contact training sessions during the Magpies trip to Spain.
The Chronicle report that if he doesn’t make the game against the Terriers, he may have to wait until the Arsenal game on April 15 to play, unless he takes part in full-scale training towards the end of this week.
Slimani is currently away on international duty with Algeria, but didn’t feature in their recent 4-1 win over Tanzania.
It is believed that the Magpies don’t want the forward to feature in his nation’s next game against Iran on Tuesday, as they wish for him to continue his recovery from his thigh injury.
OPINION
Finally a report that gives a positive update on Slimani, even if it mentions some negative scenarios as well. Magpies supporters are desperate to see the forward in action, as he is yet to feature since joining from Leicester City on loan in January, and won’t want to wait until April 15. It’s shame that the Magpies are due to play the Foxes on April 7, a game Slimani can’t feature in as it’s against his parent club, as he sounds like he’d be ready to play then. Rafa Benitez will just be crossing his fingers that Algeria don’t play Slimani on Tuesday as that could spell trouble for his recovery.