Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is to head to Barcelona for a check-up on the thigh injury which has limited his involvement in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old has made only eight Premier League starts this season and has been hampered in recent weeks by the problem.
Sky Sports News understands he is to travel to Barcelona this week to see the specialist he consulted before Christmas, although sources on Tyneside insist the trip is scheduled and as it stands,
he has not been ruled out of Saturday’s league trip to Chelsea.
However, Shelvey’s fitness has been a concern, with the £12m signing’s last four appearances, the most recent of which came in Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup third-round draw with Sky Bet Championship Blackburn, having come from the bench.