According to the Chronicle’s Mark Douglas, Florian Lejeune has impressed in training over the international break and has an outside chance of making a surprise appearance at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Frenchman has had a hellish 12 months, suffering two career-threatening ACL injuries. His latest one saw him stretchered off in April’s home defeat to Crystal Palace, however it looks like he’s close to completing his comeback once again just just six months later.
In the Chronicle’s latest injury update, Douglas reveals that the 28-year-old has been ‘getting sharper’ in training and could travel with the squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea as a result.
Considering he was tipped to return in November just last month, this would be an early and unexpected boost for Steve Bruce, giving him yet another option at centre-back.
He won’t start, and it’s not yet clear if he’ll make the bench, but he’s expected to travel with the senior squad for the first time this season, suggesting he’s now fully fit and recovered from that devastating ACL injury that has left sidelined since April.
Not only will his return be a special moment for him after some rotten luck over the past year, it will give the team a huge boost, with his calming influence at the back being sorely missed at times this season.
Welcome back Florian – NUFC’s very own bionic man!