According to a recent report by Chronicle Live, Newcastle United full-back, DeAndre Yedlin has resumed first-team training with the Magpies ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash versus Arsenal at St. James’ Park. The United States talent underwent a groin operation back in May but has recovered just in time to feature in the opening weekend of the English top-flight (via Chronicle Live).
Yedlin’s Recent Emergence In English Football
The new Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has a squad which is stretched thin at the moment with Javier Manquillo often lining up as the right-back during the preseason. However, the return of Yedlin could see him replace the Spanish defensive ace in Bruce’s first-team.
The 26-year-old was a regular feature of Rafael Benitez’s senior team at Tyneside last season and made the most of his opportunities by putting in a few impressive performances at St. James’ Park. However, he suffered a groin injury in the last term, which has hampered his development as a full-back.
Yedlin featured in 29 matches for the Magpies in the previous campaign, scoring one goal while creating two assists across multiple competitions. On the defensive end, he made an average of 1.9 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 2.4 clearances per game in the top tier of England (stats via whoscored).
At 26, he has already managed to represent the United States men’s national soccer team in 59 international matches but is yet to open his goal-scoring account for his country thus far.
What Does The United States Prospect Offer On The Pitch?
Yedlin boasts blistering pace which helps him make some darting runs down the right-wing. He can also shield the ball well to retain possession for his side. However, there are still some lingering question marks over his defensive capabilities as he can sometimes be sloppy at the back. Furthermore, he needs to work on improving his passing attributes as he has often lacked the cutting edge in the final third.
Yedlin’s Return: Massive Boost For Bruce?
There is no doubt that Yedlin’s return to first-team training will be a huge boost for the Magpies ahead of the new Premier League campaign. He is a better offensive threat than Manquillo but can be a liability inside his own half. Either way, Bruce would enjoy having more options to choose from when trying to finalise his first-team plans for this Sunday’s crucial clash against the Gunners.
