DeAndre Yedlin has returned to full training with Newcastle following a lengthy groin injury and says he’s “getting closer and closer” to a first-team comeback.
The defender has been recovering slowly from groin surgery after undergoing an operation to sort out an injury that had been hampering him for 18 months.
The USA international continued to play on for much of last season, making 29 Premier League appearances, even though he was often in pain but he’s now hoping to put his troubles behind him and turn out for Steve Bruce’s side soon.
Yedlin is now taking part in full training sessions with the Magpies and says while it’s taken longer to get himself back in shape than he would have liked, he’s now finally closing in on being fit.
He told the club’s website: “I got an MRI on it and basically the conclusion was that I needed sports hernia surgery, a bit different to groin repair. The recovery for it was meant to be quicker than it was – there’s been some scar tissue issues and things like that, so it’s been a bit frustrating, especially with the new head coach coming in; you’re obviously trying to prove yourself but I wasn’t really with the team the whole pre-season.
“Now, I’m getting closer and closer. It’s just about going out and proving every day what I can do in training, and hopefully getting an opportunity in the games.”
Yedlin, who has been with Newcastle for just over three years, has made 95 appearances in total for the club, scoring twice, and will probably now feature in at least one Under-23 game before returning to first-team contention when he will aim to help Bruce’s side move up the table after a difficult start.
Realistically, the upcoming games against Brighton on Saturday and Leicester on September 29 will come too soon for the former Tottenham man but the clash with Manchester United on October 6 could be a possible return date or the game against Chelsea on October 19 following the next international break.
