Injury expert Ben Dinnery has claimed that Ryan Fraser is unlikely to start for Newcastle United this weekend amid his recent fitness struggles.
The winger was absent from the Magpies’ recent Carabao Cup victory, missing the game – which was settled by a penalty shoot-out – due to a calf injury.
While he missed that match, he had been training in the week but evidently, Eddie Howe didn’t want to risk any further aggravation for Fraser who has faced plenty of fitness struggles in recent times.
It remains unclear as to whether or not the Newcastle United man will be ready to play any part in the Premier League this weekend but Dinnery has claimed he is unlikely to start that match against Chelsea regardless.
Speaking on the FPL Injuries YouTube page, he said (10:45): “Ryan Fraser wasn’t part of the matchday squad on Wednesday night, that’s due to a calf issue.
That’s just happened, it needs to be fully assessed to understand the extent of that. However, I wouldn’t expect him to threaten to start in the team.”
TIF thoughts on Ryan Fraser and NUFC…
Even when fit, Fraser hasn’t always been a regular starter for the Magpies this term and has actually been left on the bench in the last three league games.
In fact, he has started just three times in the Premier League all season and this isn’t a great shock seeing as the winger is yet to score or manage an assist in any of his eight outings.
Still, as a family regular substitute option, manager Howe will likely want the 28-year-old as an option to at least bring off the bench. But for now, with the injury situation still needing to be ‘fully assessed’, it remains unclear if Fraser will play any part against Chelsea.
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