Newcastle United currently sit 18th in the Premier League and Steve McClaren will be hoping his best players back performing sooner rather than later. Three men who have hardly featured for the club this season have been in the news this past weekend.

Keeper Krul will come back stronger

Tim Krul suffered a season-ending injury whilst on international duty last year but has said he will come back 'bigger and stronger' when he returns to action in August this year.

Speaking to Dutch media, the goalkeeper stated he would 'give anything' to be back on the pitch with his team-mates and used fellow countryman Edwin van der Sar as an example when he said his 'best years' are yet to come in England's top flight.

Krul, who has been at Newcastle for ten years, claims he feels 'at home' in the North East. Rob Elliot has been performing well in Krul's absence which may mean the Dutchman will have to extra hard to regain his number one spot.

De Jong unhappy with gametime

Siem De Jong has admitted this week that his lack of playing time at Newcastle United 'sucks', as the Dutchman looks to secure a permanent role in McClaren's starting XI.

Speaking to Dutch outlet, Algemeen Dagblad, the attacking midfielder expressed his frustration at not being picked. De Jong said he felt he needed minutes on the pitch to get himself into a 'rhythm'. Since signing in 2014, he has only started four Premier League games.

De Jong claimed when joining a new club, you have to 'show something'. De Jong ruptured his thigh just after signing for Newcastle and upon his return, he suffered a collapsed lung which has hampered his start in England.

In a recent match against Everton, De Jong caused anger amongst fans when he headed a chance wide from around six yards out. This may not have helped his cause. The fact McClaren wasn't the manager who signed the attacker may also hinder his future at the club.

Youngster Aarons suffers another setback

Rolando Aarons has had a very unlucky start to his professional career with injuries to his calf, feet and hamstring over the past year. 2016 seems to have brought the same luck for the player, as his first game back from injury has been postponed.

The 20-year-old was set to return to action in a reserve game against Everton but the game has been cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. 

Newcastle manager McClaren will have been hoping to give Aarons some much needed gametime ahead of the FA Cup clash with Watford on Saturday.

Aarons' return will be welcomed by NUFC fans due to Florian ThauvinYoan Gouffran and Gabriel Obertan all failing to perform down the flanks, something which Aarons has already shown he can do.

VAVEL Logo
About the author