Newcastle face being caught up in a club-versus-country row after Islam Slimani was called up by Algeria despite still being in recovery from a thigh injury.
The 29-year-old striker is yet to kick a ball for United since signing on loan from Leicester on the final day of the January transfer window, arriving at St James’ Park with the injury and suffering a setback in training last month ahead of the trip to Bournemouth.
It’s understood there is a chance Slimani could be fit enough to make his Newcastle debut in the home game against Huddersfield at the end of March, but that could be scuppered after national team boss Rabah Madjer named him in a 23-man squad for the matches against Iran and Tanzania.
There is a chance that Slimani could still decide to withdraw in order to minimise the risk of the injury reoccurring as he edges closer to a return, and Rafa Benitez will hope the former Sporting Lisbon striker and Madjer will see sense in that regard.
Benitez is still debating whether to include Slimani in the party that will travel to Spain today for a four-day training camp that will include a friendly with Belgian side Royal Antwerp on Sunday.
“We will have to decide if he comes with us to Spain,” Benitez told the Shields Gazette last week. “We can say Huddersfield is the idea, but maybe he’ll be feeling something. Now, he’s on the pitch with the fitness coach, but it depends on him.”
