Matteo Fernández-Pardo nears return after recovering from a strong virus

Newcastle manager Matthias Jasle has provided an update on the fitness of Matteo Fernández-Pardo, confirming that he has suffered from a strong virus that kept him out of action for more than two weeks.

Yasleh said: "Matteo has suffered from a strong virus and has been absent for more than two weeks. He has started to recover and has returned to training with us again."

The coach stated: "We need to assess his physical condition before facing Fulham, to see how ready he is to participate in the match."

Fernández-Pardo is known for his attacking versatility, able to play as a forward and on the wings, providing his team with additional options in the front line. His return to full fitness is crucial to enhance the attacking options ahead of upcoming challenges.

The 21-year-old Belgian player has joined Newcastle from Lille during last summer's transfer window for a fee of around £51 million. The club is counting on him to strengthen their attacking power thanks to his speed and ability to play in multiple attacking positions.