Newcastle handed Elanga injury boost with return possible after international break

Anthony Elanga could return for Newcastle United after the international break, with Sky Sports’ Keith Downie reporting encouraging progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

The Swedish winger missed last Monday’s defeat at Leeds and Saturday’s 2-1 win over Hull, but there is now hope that he could be available when our Premier League campaign resumes.

According to Downie’s update on Saturday, Elanga underwent a second scan last week and is “making progress quickly”.

He will miss all four of Sweden’s upcoming Nations League matches, allowing Newcastle to concentrate on his rehabilitation during the three-week break.

That is welcome news after an anxious wait for a clearer picture of the injury, particularly given Elanga’s promising start to the season and our lack of quality options in that position.

Encouraging signs after a worrying week

Matthias Jaissle was still awaiting clarity ahead of the Hull game, describing Elanga as a “key strength in our squad” and expressing his hope that the problem would not prove too serious.

Downie’s report gives us some reason for optimism, although a return after the break remains a possibility rather than a confirmed date.

The timing of the international window could certainly help. Elanga can spend the next few weeks working with Newcastle’s medical staff while the league programme pauses.

And we could do with a few more encouraging updates. Nine senior players missed the Hull victory, leaving Jaissle with limited options and five Under-21 players on the bench.

Saturday’s three points gave us something to build on. Getting Elanga back after the break would give Jaissle a valuable attacking option as he tries to turn that win into a more consistent run.