Newcastle United defender Florian Lejeune will return to first team action in mid December, according to the Sun.
The newspaper reports that the Frenchman, who Newcastle signed from Eibar this summer for £8.7million, is six months ahead of schedule in terms of his recovery.
The Sun reported in August that the Magpies centre half was expected to be out for the entirety of this season, but he is already back in light training ahead of a first team return next month.
Lejeune was operated on by Italian expert Professor Pier Paolo Mariani, with the 27-year-old’s surgery – which normally lasts an hour – only taking 20 minutes.
OPINION
This is a big boost for Newcastle. Lejeune was one of their most important players last season and when he went down injured in the summer it was considered a huge blow on Tyneside. However, he has made a remarkable recovery and is expected to be back in the first team picture in a month or so. It’s ironic, really, that his return is coming at a time when the Magpies are as well stocked at centre back as they have ever been. Captain Jamaal Lascelles and summer signing Federico Fernandez have formed a solid partnership at the back for Rafael Benitez’s side, while Fabian Schar impressed many with an excellent display off the bench against Watford last time out. That’s not even counting veteran Irishman Ciaran Clark. So obviously Lejeune’s spectacular recovery is good news for Newcastle, but it it will provide Benitez with a bit of a selection headache moving forward.
