Newcastle United confirm Sven Botman return date as star returns for Nottingham Forest

Newcastle United will welcome back Jacob Murphy for the trip to Nottingham Forest but the clash at the City Ground comes too soon for Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson.

Head coach Eddie Howe has also made it clear that Sven Botman's return will probably be in January rather than next month, despite great progress from the Dutchman. Howe will take his injured players to Saudi Arabia next week for a "warm weather" training camp with their rehab incorporated within the excursion.

Howe, speaking at his press conference ahead of the trip to the City Ground on Sunday, said: "I don't think we are missing anyone new. Jacob Murphy should be OK for Sunday. We are still working on getting the injured players back - they are all making progress.

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"The plan is to get some warm weather training in Saudi with the players for three or four days during the international break."

Trippier has not featured since suffering a hamstring injury away to Everton in early October while Wilson has not kicked a ball all season but told fans in Doha last week that he intends to return against West Ham. Botman was forced to go under the knife last spring after a series of knee problems.

Reflecting on Botman's estimated return date, Howe said: "We hope Sven can begin light training in the next few weeks. If we see him before the end of the year, that would be a bonus. We are probably looking at more like January."

Ahead of the Forest game, Howe has set his players the challenge of being consistent after failing to strike up a winning run so far this term. He said: "We are looking at improvements this year. Consistency is a big, big word for us. Not the most interesting response, I know, but these are the things that we judge ourselves by.

"I think, if we can find that ability to win games and put a sequence of results together, the Premier League is so tight, it can really change the feeling."

Howe was today celebrating his three-year anniversary as manager and stated it felt "good" to still be here. The head coach now wants to take the club to the next level.

Howe said: "I think the fourth year we're looking at progression. We're looking at improvement. We're looking at a really tight Premier League this year. So consistency, I think, is a big a big word for us.

"It's not necessarily the most interesting response, I know, but these are the things that we judge ourselves by. It's going to be a tight Premier League this year so the teams that are able to put those winning spells and sequences together will have the best chance of success, and that's what they're trying to do."