VURNON ANITA has been passed fit for Newcastle's game at Swansea City despite leaving the field on a stretcher during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Southampton.

Anita injured his back when he fell awkwardly in the second half of last weekend's game, but the problem proved to be nothing more than serious than severe bruising and he has returned to full training ahead of Newcastle’s opening away game at the Liberty Stadium.

“He’s had a little bit of grief about that because it’s been a proper miraculous recovery,” joked assistant manager Paul Simpson. “Stretchered off on Sunday, and fit to train on Wednesday.

“It was a real concern at the time because he took a really heavy, awkward landing in his fall. I’m going to have to give credit to the medical team – they’ve laid their magic hands on him and he’s made a really good recovery.

“He joined in training – hopefully there’ll be no reaction from that, and we’ll have a clean bill of health going into the Swansea fixture.”

Remy Cabella and Paul Dummett have returned to training after thigh and hamstring injuries respectively, but neither player will be ready for Saturday’s game.