RAFA BENITEZ is not desperate to rush Jonjo Shelvey and Jamaal Lascelles back into Premier League action against Burnley on Monday because he would rather they returned to full fitness.

The pair have taken it easy over the international break in a bid to make sure their respective calf and shoulder problems have gone.

Benitez’s options have improved in recent weeks because their absences have opened the door for Fabian Schar and Ki Sung-Yeung to slot in and perform well.

Schar and Ki were not only the men who replaced them to help secure three points against Watford, they were then key parts of the team that defeated Bournemouth a week later.

Those six points have lifted Newcastle out of the Premier League’s bottom three and level on points with Burnley ahead of Monday’s trip to Turf Moor.

Newcastle have looked more confident in the last two matches, particularly against the Cherries, and Benitez will leave it late before making a decision on whether Shelvey and Lascelles can travel to Lancashire with the squad.

Japanese forward Yoshinori Muto should be available after training with the first team this week again, while the presence of defender Florian Lejeune on the training ground again was heartening.

Lejeune is still some way off appearing in the top-flight but he has made good progress in his recovery from a serious knee injury sustained during pre-season. He is unlikely to figure this year, but the signs are promising for an early than expected comeback in the new year.

Newcastle are likely to head to Burnley without left-back Paul Dummett. He has stated on social media that he is “disappointed” to have limped out of Wales’ game with Denmark last week and is focused on returning as soon as he can.

Benitez is likely to deliver an update on that front when he carries out his pre-match media duties at Newcastle’s base on Friday afternoon.

After a dreadful start to the season, Newcastle are looking to make it three wins in a row when they head to Burnley, who are struggling to get going themselves after qualifying for the Europa League last season.

The Clarets’ full-back Charlie Taylor, who was previously considered by Newcastle before leaving Leeds last year, knows his team need to improve after conceding 25 times in their opening 11 games.

Sean Dyche and his players hope the goalless draw, and the clean sheet, with Leicester boosted confidence knowing Burnley have not had the best of starts on home turf.

Taylor said: “They used to say it should be easier at home … when you’ve got your fans behind you and your home comforts. It’s surprising, but it’s good that we are picking up points on the road.

“At the same time, we want to make Turf Moor a fortress and be tough to beat at home. That’s something we can definitely do. We want to win our home games and what better time to do it than against Newcastle on Monday. It’s very tight (at the bottom).

“It’s still early on in the season, but you want to beat the teams around you more than anything, and we want to put as many points between us and the bottom three as possible.”