Steve McClaren must decide whether or not to persevere with out-of-sorts Papiss Cisse, who is unsettled after a summer in which he appeared to be heading for the exit door.
McClaren is planning to shake up his Newcastle side to get a reaction after Monday’s disappointment at West Ham and he wants more fluency up front.
He is considering the claims of Ayoze Perez, who could fill the role as a lone striker, and de Jong, who performed well against Northampton and got a late run on Monday.
McClaren has spent this week working on a new shape that will get more from Georginio Wijnaldum and he could make some major selection calls.
De Jong, who McClaren compared to Dennis Bergkamp last week, is an option for the Newcastle boss – and he is looking to make the most of a period of prolonged match fitness to return to the international scene.
Speaking last month, he said: “International football is an important point. Until the World Cup in 2014 I was often there. Louis van Gaal said: ‘Siem you are not coming, you just had an injury and you have too little time to get match fit for the World Cup.
“I followed the World Cup with mixed feelings. It was the same at Euro 2012 – I fell of the radar at the last moment. The Dutch national side and De Jong do not really sit together. I have not yet had contact with Danny Blind but he knows me and he knows what I can.
“I hope to join them towards the European Championships next summer.”