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By CRAIG HOPE Published: 04: 00 AEDT, 13 December 2024 | Updated: 04: 00 AEDT, 13 December 2024 3 View comments Newcastle are still absorbing the loss of Callum Wilson for the next two months, but Confidential can reveal better news on the hamstring front with Joe Willock. The midfielder was ruled out of last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at Brentford with a hamstring issue and there were fears among some of a spell on the sidelines, given his injury issues. However, we understand that tests have confirmed the problem is not serious and Willock is on course to return to the squad for Saturday’s visit of Leicester. He did not train during the early part of this week, but the plan is for the 25-year-old to rejoin the group ahead of the game and most likely take his place on the bench, should there be no adverse reaction. That will be a boost for Eddie Howe, who sees Willock’s running power and ability to carry the ball upfield as different to what his other midfielders bring. But, like Wilson, Willock has found himself hampered by injury in recent seasons and his absence has been felt. Indeed, since the start of last season, he has started only 10 Premier League games. The good news is that the recurring Achilles problem that decimated his last campaign has not returned this time around. Meanwhile, as revealed by Mail Sport on Wednesday, Newcastle are coming to terms with a fresh setback for Wilson. He is facing two months out with a hamstring injury and the striker has now posted on social media in response to our story. Callum Wilson suffered another injury blow this week and will be out for the next two months But there is more positive injury news for Joe Willock, whose hamstring scare is not serious Eddie Howe's side sit 12th in the Premier League after losing 4-2 to Brentford at the weekend ‘Despite all the hard work I’ve put in pushing to get back to full fitness, I need to take a little step backwards unfortunately, guys, ’ he wrote. ‘Frustrating as it is for everyone out there waiting for my return and to be able to help the team, these shortcomings also upset and frustrate me more than anybody else. I will, and I am doing everything in my power to rediscover the best version of myself and finally get off this emotional rollercoaster, which I’m hoping 2025 will bring. ’ HOMEGROWN STAR FOR SALE On the subject of midfielders, Confidential understands Newcastle will listen to offers for Sean Longstaff in January. Conversations in transfer circles this week have revealed that the 27-year-old is available for transfer in the New Year with sporting director Paul Mitchell tasked with improving the club’s PSR situation. Any incomings must be offset against a sale before June. Newcastle have this month invoked the option to extend Longstaff’s contract by one year to the summer of 2026, in a bid to protect the value of their academy graduate. And that means a situation whereby the hierarchy see a January sale as making business sense, even though he remains a valued member of Eddie Howe’s first-team squad. The longstanding uncertainty over Longstaff’s future has not aided the player in terms of his form and feeling of contentment. It is thought he understands his future may now be elsewhere. We are aware of several clubs and intermediaries who have been told of Longstaff’s availability in recent days. Newcastle will listen to offers for midfielder Sean Longstaff in the January transfer window Sporting director Paul Mitchell (above) has been tasked with improving the club’s PSR situation SANDRO NO-GO IN NEW YEAR Sandro Tonali is NOT seeking a January return to Italy and remains determined to prove his worth at Newcastle, sources have told Confidential. A report in Italy suggested the midfielder was unhappy and could be interested in a January transfer back to Milan, the club he left to join Newcastle in a £52million deal in 2023. However, that notion has been played down and it is said Tonali wants to repay the support the Magpies gave him during his 10-month ban for illegal gambling. The 24-year-old, like any player, is thought to have been frustrated by finding himself out of the team at times of late, but it is likely he will return to the XI for Saturday’s visit of Leicester. SCOUTING SUMMIT Newcastle’s scouts held a pre-January meeting last week - in the room above Eddie Howe’s pre-match press conference. Senior recruitment staff including Andy Howe and Steve Nickson led the session at the club’s Whitley Park media and scouting centre. I had a brief exchange with the always affable Nickson as he walked in. He confirmed he was keeping busy, to which I replied it would be worrying if he wasn’t, given the time of year and the team’s need for reinforcement! However, a lot of scouting work has proved in vain in recent windows, with PSR - and other factors - meaning Newcastle have not signed a first-team starter since the summer of 2023. For me, that has to change next month. The Magpies have not signed a first-team starter for Howe's squad since the summer of 2023, when midfielder Sandro Tonali (above) joined from Serie A giants AC Milan for £52million Join Mail+ to read Craig Hope's Newcastle Confidential every Thursday, plus more exclusive scoops, in-depth coverage and analysis from St James' Park MURPHY GOES, MILEY STAYS? Given the news above about Sean Longstaff potentially leaving the club next month, I’m told that a loan exit for fellow midfielder Lewis Miley is unlikely. However, defender Alex Murphy should be allowed to head out on loan after the FA Cup tie against Bromley on January 12. The 20-year-old is yet to go on loan since arriving on Tyneside in 2022, making two Premier League appearances in that time. Murphy, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, is well thought of within St James’ Park and a move to a Championship or League One club will be seen as key to his development in the second half of the season, should Sven Botman’s return from injury go to plan. Miley, meanwhile, is likely to find his first-team minutes increase in the New Year as he builds fitness and endurance after a lengthy injury absence. The 18-year-old would have plenty of loan suitors, but we understand Eddie Howe wants him around the senior set-up. SUMMER PLANS TAKING SHAPE Newcastle are considering a pre-season friendly proposal from Celtic and, if accepted, Confidential understands the squad would likely jet off on tour following the game. My colleagues in Scotland, as part of our Celtic Confidential column, revealed this week that the Magpies were in line for a friendly at Celtic Park on Saturday, July 19. My sources say the game is yet to be rubber-stamped but it appears likely to take place. If so, it has been suggested that Newcastle could repeat what they did following a pre-season friendly at Rangers in the summer of 2023, when they flew to the United States from Glasgow to take part in the Premier League Summer Series. The destination of Newcastle’s pre-season tour this time is still being worked on, but a return to the US is among the considerations. A loan exit for 18-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley (right) is unlikely, Confidential understands Newcastle are considering a pre-season friendly proposal from Celtic ahead of next campaign TOON TEASER! It’s Toon Teaser time. Last week’s puzzler was: can you name the FIFTEEN players to have played for Newcastle and Liverpool since 1992? The answers were:  John Barnes, Craig Bellamy, Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique, Danny Guthrie, Dietmar Hamman, Mike Hooper, Loris Karius, Javier Manquillo, James Milner, Michael Owen, Ian Rush, Jonjo Shelvey, Barry Venison and Gini Wijnaldum. This week’s question is… can you name the THIRTEEN players to have played for Newcastle and Leicester since 1992? I would never have got one of these (clue: he did not play for Newcastle in the Premier League), but the other 12 are very gettable. Good luck! Don’t forget to subscribe to my NUFC-dedicated Whats App channel… It’s free and is available HERE. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group