Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that senior mainstay DeAndre Yedlin has been ruled out of the club’s clash against Cardiff City on Saturday.
The American international limped off in the dying minutes of the Magpies’ 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham on the first weekend of the season, but after the club were left sweating over his fitness, it was confirmed that the issue was a minor one.
However, despite having returned to training earlier this week, Benitez revealed Saturday’s clash away in Wales would come too soon for the man who has established himself as a firm favourite under the Spaniard, keeping his place as the first choice right back.
Benitez was quoted by journalist Lee Ryder as saying: “He has trained but we had a conversation and he will stay here because he needs time to get back to his level.
“Next week we will be fine.”
Rafa Benitez on Yedlin's chances of playing vs Cardiff: “It’s too soon.
“He has trained but we had a conversation and he will stay here because he needs time to get back to his level.
“Next week we will be fine.” #nufc— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) August 17, 2018
Opinion
There would have been very few people out there who would have expected Yedlin to feature against the newly promoted side this weekend after the way he hobbled off the pitch and down the tunnel assisted by a member of the backroom staff. In fact, prior to the club’s update on his status in midweek, there would have been many predicting a long term layoff, that is how serious it seemed. However they have been seriously lucky and got away with missing him for just one game, and it leaves Benitez making the decision as to who replaces him in the starting XI. The favourite must be Javier Manquillo, the Spanish full back having taken his place last season when Yedlin was out, although there may be calls for a youngster to come in, with the former Atletico Madrid man hardly filling the Toon Army with any sort of confidence with his displays.