Newcastle United striker Islam Slimani is facing a race against time to be fit for the Magpies’ next match against Huddersfield on the 31st of March, according to manager Rafa Benitez.
As reported by the Chronicle, Slimani has travelled to Spain with the squad for their mid-season warm weather training camp, but is working along with a fitness coach.
The newspaper report that the Algeria international must wait to get approval in order to start joining in on small training games and any drills that involve contact.
The fact that the 29-year-old made the trip to Murcia had raised hopes that he would be fit to make his first Magpies appearance since joining on loan from Leicester in January, but that may not be the case.
Speaking to NUTV, as quoted by the Chronicle, Benitez said: “He has a plan, he has to follow that plan. He is working with the fitness coach but he has to follow the plan.”
OPINION
Slimani’s arrival at Newcastle looked like a dream for many fans, but his short career on Tyneside so far is slowly turning into a nightmare for all involved. Where there was hope that the Algerian hitman would bang in the goals on the way to helping Newcastle to Premier League survival, there is now concern that he will not play a part in their season at all. It does however look like Slimani is slowly getting back to fitness, and this international break has come at a good time for the Magpies. Hopefully Slimani will make the Huddersfield game, because if not then he will not play until two weeks later, as their next game after that is against parent club Leicester.