Newcastle record signing Alexander Isak will miss the club's mid-season friendlies and faces a race against time to be fit for the return of the Premier League.
The £60million striker suffered a thigh injury on international duty with Sweden in September and his comeback was delayed when the same issue flared up the following month.
Isak is yet to train fully since then and he did not take part with his team-mates during Tuesday's session here in Saudi Arabia, where Newcastle will play Al-Hilal on Thursday night.
It had been hoped the 23-year-old could feature against the Saudi champions, but Eddie Howe has confirmed he will sit out both that game and the home friendly with Rayo Vallecano on December 17.