ToonForum - Newcastle United Forum

overseasTOON wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 18, 2018 7:12 pm

Motivational posters

Remember Colo wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:19 pm

That green is intense.

Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 02, 2018 1:59 pm

I wonder when he's actually due back, it sounds sooner than I was expecting.

Scalabrine wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:46 pm

And a new striker too.

overseasTOON wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:48 pm

Scalabrine wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:46 pm

And a new striker too.

I hope he fits into Rafa's system.

Florian Lejeune in line to return before Christmas

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez could have two of the Magpies' most-consistent defenders back fit and available soon enough

Florian Lejeune could return to the Newcastle United side before Christmas as the Frenchman continues to make rapid progress following a serious knee injury.

The 27-year-old Frenchman suffered knee-ligament damage during a pre-season training session in July, an injury which usually rules players out for between six and nine months.

Yet the centre-back has been training with the Magpies first-team squad over the past fortnight and, should he come through the next two weeks unscathed, then Benitez will recall him to the United side - little more than four months after Lejeune was struck down by the injury.

Lejeune's rapid recovery was made possible by Benitez's decision to send the Frenchman to Rome, where Professor Paolo Mariani - who is renowned for his ability to help players return to play swiftly following knee injuries - successfully operated on the centre-back.

In theory, Benitez insists Lejeune is fit enough to play at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, but the United manager wants to make sure the Frenchman has a significant amount of training behind him before he returns to Premier League action. The pre-Christmas fixture against Fulham could be Lejeune's return match, though Benitez will not rush the Frenchman back.

"He’s doing full training sessions," Benitez said during his pre-Everton Press conference after he was asked when Lejeune will return to the side.

"Could he play against Everton [if I needed him to]? Yes. But is this the time to put him on the pitch? No. I want to see him in a couple of weeks training with the team.

"He has the strength and is tackling, but we are talking about an injury that is normally six months, and this is just four months."

Link: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/f ... t-15505932

Colly wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:29 am

Don't write off Ciaran Clark either, easily our best defender in the Championship and criminally underrated by some. Eye for a goal too...

Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:00 am

Good news, sounds like we’ll see him feature before Christmas. Lascelles, Lejeune, Fernandez and Schar - not a bad problem to have. Wonder if we’ll see us go three at the back as v Burnley a bit more often.

Sanchino wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:13 pm

Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:00 am

Good news, sounds like we’ll see him feature before Christmas. Lascelles, Lejeune, Fernandez and Schar - not a bad problem to have. Wonder if we’ll see us go three at the back as v Burnley a bit more often.

I definitely feel with those 4 + Clark we can have 3 in the back more often than not. 3-4-3 suits us quite well if we playing on the counter as shown by the Everton and Burnley games I don't know if at home it'll suit us so well but seeing as we got thumped 0-3 by West Ham with a back four that day maybe it's better to keep with 3 at the back always as it makes strong defensively and suits Rafa's tactics much better. Shouldn't use manquillo though ever as wing-back prefer someone like Atsu / Sterry if Dummet / Kennedy are unavailable.