23-year-old delivers fitness boost to Newcastle United

Newcastle United defender Massadio Haidara has revealed that he is very close to returning to match fitness.

Haidara has endured a terrible time with injury since joining Newcastle United a couple of years ago and the defender had suffered another huge blow last season after being ruled out with a long term knee problem.

As an encouragement recently, Haidara made his first appearance in 10 months after featuring in the 1-1 draw against Stoke City in a Premier League 2 game at Whitley Park on Monday.

Haidara managed 45 minutes during the clash and the 23-year-old has now gone on to speak regarding his injury problems as well as his targets for the upcoming weeks.

Speaking after the game against Stoke, the defender stated that he is very happy to have managed some game time under his belt and added that he will now be ready for regular first team football ‘very soon’.

Haidara told the Chronicle, “I am really happy because my last first-team game was October. It was great to play 45 minutes. I felt good and confident. I think I will be fully fit very soon.

“It was hard for me. It came in the first week of my comeback from another injury. I was very close to playing again. After getting that injury, after doing all the hard work, it was really hard.”