WOLVES head to Newcastle for Magic Weekend boosted by the return of four players and a contract extension for Ben Westwood.

A first Super League appearance in primrose and blue could come for close-season signing Ryan Bailey against former club Castleford at St James’ Park on Saturday.

And fellow prop Ben Evans as well as centre Toby King are available too after joining Bailey in successful comebacks with the reserves’ win over Keighley at the weekend.

They could well be called on after centres Ryan Atkins and Rhys Evans, along with winger Kevin Penny, collected fresh injuries in Sunday’s 36-28 defeat at Wakefield.

The league leaders, who have tied down 34-year-old Westwood until the end of next season, will be without the services of Penny for four to five weeks with a grade two hamstring tear, with Gene Ormsby set to start in his place on the left-wing.

Wolves’ head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith rates Atkins (concussion) and Rhys Evans’ (shoulder/neck) chances of featuring in the Tyneside showpiece as doubtful ahead of naming his squad at 2pm today, Thursday.

Stefan Ratchford is expected to return after illness brought about his late withdrawal at Belle Vue, while Kurt Gidley is clear to play after the Match Review Panel decided no further action was required to the sin-binning he received for getting caught up in a fight with Wakefield’s ex-Wire prop Anthony England, who has received a one-match suspension.

As well as confirming Bailey, King and Ben Evans are in contention for Saturday, Smith said the current injury list should subside soon as several players close in on a first-team return.

“All three of them performed very well in the reserves game,” said Smith.

“We haven’t got too long to wait for Brad Dwyer, while Dec Patton will be back in the next couple of weeks and Chrissy Sandow is coming along really well so fingers crossed we will get a few more players back in the coming weeks.”