'Huge' Newcastle player suspiciously absent from training photos despite report earlier in the week

Newcastle United have a weekend off from action this week as our scheduled opponents Manchester United are in FA Cup action so the lads are preparing for Wednesday's visit to Selhurst Park.

Eddie Howe's men are looking to make it five games unbeaten in the Premier League as they continue their charge up the table in search of a spot in Europe next season.

As is tradition, the club has released a gallery of images from today's training session showing the lads in action, but there's one player who is suspiciously absent.

Earlier this week, Sky Sports News' Keith Downie reported that Callum Wilson was back in what appeared to be full training for Newcastle, however, he's nowhere to be seen in this gallery.

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Callum Wilson is suspiciously absent from the training gallery

The gallery up on the newly renamed newcastleunited.com, doesn't show any hint of Wilson on the training pitch.

It's a move often used by the club to mask the fact that somebody is returning to action when nearing a game to keep the opposition guessing, but the game is still just under a week away and the news is already out about Wilson, so what's going on?

Wilson, who was declared a 'huge' player by Eddie Howe following the 4-4 draw with Luton earlier this season, has been out for two months after picking up a pectoral injury, of all things.

We may be reading too much into it - at least we hope so

The £20million former Bournemouth man looks to be set to return to the matchday squad for the last few games, giving Eddie Howe the option of resting Alexander Isak should he need to.

However, now there's a doubt being cast over that with Wilson not appearing in the training gallery. Are these Eddie Howe's mind games starting early, or has Wilson fractured another eyelash?

Hopefully, it's just a deliberate ploy to keep him out of the spotlight so he can return to action on Wednesday against Palace.