Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll has been pulled out of this weekend’s squad to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Geordie centre-forward is not seriously injured but a groin twinge has resulted in precautionary action from Steve Bruce.
The withdrawal is part of Bruce and the club doctor’s careful fitness management plan of the former West Ham player.
Carroll felt the twinge after the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.
United will assess his fitness throughout the next week to see if he is in contention for a return to his old club in the next game.
Carroll has managed to get through 89 minutes of his comeback to United so far, but a first team start is a million miles off.
As reported yesterday Carroll is training just two days a week and staff feel that had made a big difference on the injury that has plagued him for a number of years.