Jonas Gutierrez is not quite ready to return to Premier League action according to Newcastle United manager John Carver.
The 31-year old Argentine winger has been given the all-clear to resume his career after beating testicular cancer and was hoping to slip back into the Magpies squad for the remainder of the Premier League season.
Gutierrez, who almost returned home to Velez Sarsfield in January, is determined to make it back to the top of English football but Carver suggests he has some work to do before that becomes an option.
"A little bit of it (whether he will play again) is in his hands," said Carver.
"He can play (for the reserves), but you know when you're ready to go at Premier League level. I am waiting for the right time and it's not right at the moment. I can see that on the training ground.
"He has come back from a serious situation and I'm not putting any pressure on him.
"I don't know (if he will play again). I'd like to think so. It's got to be right. He's got to get in the team, in his position. He has to compete to get on the left hand side and there is a lot of competition there, more than we've had for a long time."
The Toon boss added: "At this moment in time it's too early to say that. Let's see what happens as we get towards the end of the season."
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