SIEM DE JONG is closing in on a first-team return with Newcastle United after appearing in a friendly game with Carlisle United this afternoon.

De Jong made a 45-minute appearance as a Newcastle side that also featured Gabriel Obertan and Mehdi Abeid beat a Carlisle XI 3-1 at Darsley Park.

The Holland international has been sidelined since tearing a calf muscle in August, and has made just three senior appearances since completing a £4.5m move from Ajax in the summer.

He scored in this afternoon's run out, with Jonathyn Quinn and Lubo Satka adding Newcastle's other goals.

De Jong tweeted: "Played 45 minutes today in a friendly game! #almostthere"

John Carver must now decide whether to name the attacking midfielder in his squad for Saturday's game at Hull City, or err on the side of caution and give him another behind-closed-doors run out next week ahead of the following weekend's home game with Stoke City.

Obertan has missed the best part of three months after damaging his hamstring in the 1-0 win over Liverpool, while Abeid has not appeared since injuring his foot while on international duty with Algeria in early December.