Newcastle United injury update ahead of Burnley clash.

Ex-Burnley boss Eddie Howe has provided a fitness update on two key Newcastle United players ahead of the Premier League meeting between the two sides.

Scott Parker’s Burnley and Newcastle are back in Premier League action on Saturday at St James’ Park (3pm kick-off). For the hosts, Sandro Tonali and Yoane Wissa are doubts heading into the game. Italian international Tonali was forced off at half-time in the midweek match with Tottenham Hotspur with a knock and will be a doubt to face The Clarets this weekend following a scan.

Wissa is also a doubt for the match, but the forward has been back in training and taken part in two practice matches this past week. The 29-year-old is yet to feature since joining the club from Brentford for £55million on deadline day.

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Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Howe said: “[Tonali] has had a scan. We don't think it's too bad.

“So, we're giving him every chance to declare himself fit, if possible. It was a knock, very similar to Joelinton's suffered, sort of a similar fate, sort of dead leg type feeling. “But Sandro’s injury was concerning enough for him to get scanned. We'll see how he is today. And, yeah, give him every chance to be fit.”

“Sven [Botman] has had an injection in his back. I haven't actually seen him personally since the Tottenham game. We hope that [the injection] will bring about his return quite quickly. But now I think there's a time period for his injection to work, which I think is around about a week, and then we'll see how he is.”

On Wissa, Howe explained: “Getting closer, we're getting closer. We did 11 v 11 on a game, sort of for him on Wednesday and that was good. “That was more minutes for him, around half an hour and he did well. So, yeah, we'll see how he is today.

“So far he's looked good and he's come through everything. But I always say in these situations, you still have training today, and we've got to make a decision as to whether he's ready to not just be fit, but fit to make a difference and fit to perform to his highest levels.”

Newcastle are in a busy fixture schedule with a trip to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League to follow the Burnley match. After that it’s the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

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