Newcastle may have Florian Lejeune back very, very soon.
According to The Chronicle, Newcastle United defender Florian Lejeune is ‘getting sharper’ in training, and could even be available against Chelsea.
Lejeune, 28, was a key signing for Rafael Benitez in 2017, landing the centre back for just £8.7million from Girona following Newcastle’s promotion (Guardian).
The Frenchman was a Benitez favourite, making 24 appearances in his first season under the Spaniard and just 12 last season, as he had a knee injury to start the season and ended it with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Lejeune has been fighting back from that latest injury blow over the last few months, and it looks like he’ll be back in action very soon.
It’s claimed that Lejeune is ‘getting sharper’ in training, and whilst Newcastle understandably want to take it slowly with him, there’s a chance he can be in the squad to face Chelsea next weekend.
That seems a little unlikely right now, given that Steve Bruce used Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar and Ciaran Clark as his three centre backs against Manchester United before the international break.
With Federico Fernandez and Paul Dummett also in contention, Lejeune may not even be on the bench to face Chelsea due to the strong competition.
Still, it’s great that he’s back, and that will give Bruce another great option in his back line, with Lejeune often impressing in the Premier League under Benitez.
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