The talented 21-year-old right-back had surgery at the end of May having been troubled by injury throughout the second half of last term.

Sterry - who made three appearances under Rafa Benítez last term, either side of a loan spell with Coventry City - has resumed full training in recent days, having worked away from the main group throughout pre-season.

And he could make his return to action for the under-23s at West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.

With Paul Dummett and Florian Lejeune both likely to be missing for a number of weeks, Sterry could give Benítez another defensive option.

He signed a new four-year contract at the beginning of last season, having made his Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the 2015/16 campaign.