Newcastle United will be boosted by the confirmation of Ryan Fraser’s fitness ahead of their huge game on the weekend against another relegation-battler.
And journalist Lee Ryder has hailed this as a big positive for Eddie Howe going into the game against Brentford as the Toon have a massive opportunity to make a real statement for their Premier League survival.
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The Scottish winger’s fitness was under question ahead of the trip to London this weekend with Fraser being forced off in their previous outing in the draw against West Ham United.
Fraser had picked up a knock in the game against the Hammers and Howe was forced to remove the 28-year-old after 79 minutes (via Transfermarkt).
However, Howe confirmed on Friday the winger would be available for the game and Ryder feels this will be a huge boost on the back of his recent form for the Magpies:
“The better news was Ryan Fraser is going to be fit. He got a knock, if you remember, at the end of that West Ham game, retired early, but is going to be back for Brentford.
“So that’s a real boost for Newcastle. Going into that trip to London back-to-back trip to London after last weekend’s game at West Ham.”
TIF Thoughts on Ryder’s comments…
The winger has certainly shown improved form over recent weeks and has played a prominent role in Howe’s XI amid their recent upturn in form which has dragged them out of the bottom three.
Fraser found the back of the net in the first game back after the two-week break as the Tyneside club ran out 3-1 victors over Frank Lampard’s Everton (via Transfermarkt).
The winger’s stats for the season are still fairly underwhelming, however, with Allan Saint-Maximin’s availability still not known, it is apparent Ryder feels on the back of his recent ‘transformation’, Fraser could play a big role at the Community Stadium.
In other news: ‘I know’ – Ryder reveals what NUFC worked on in training; Howe will now be ‘disappointed’