Steve Bruce has hinted that Jetro Willems may have suffered a cruciate knee ligament damage during last night’s win over Chelsea – also revealing that Paul Dummett’s injury is “serious”.
The Dutchman immediately signalled for the medics and was stretchered off following a tangle with Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Bruce has since admitted the injury looks a “horrendous” one.
Bruce also revealed that the club are “close” to completing “one or two” deals (is one Valentino Lazaro?), however it looks like a new left-back may be on the agenda all of a sudden if Willems’ injury is as bad as he fears.
Here’s what he’s had to say about both injuries:
“It looks a horrendous injury for Jetro – a cruciate is what we fear – and it doesn’t look great for Paul Dummett so in that area all of a sudden we’ve got a problem.
“We’re due a bit of luck, I’ve never know anything like it.
“With two what’s looking like serious injuries, we might have to visit something.
“We’ll see. I’ll have to just digest all that.“
It really is a sickener for Willems and bad news on Dummett too, but surely the former has done enough to earn a permanent contract at the club – even if this injury does go on to mean he won’t play again this season?
Bruce then shared an update on the transfer front, hinting that the club are closing in on a few targets:
“We are close to one or two things, we’ll try and let’s hope we can get them over the line.
“We are not going to bring players in for the sake of it, they have to improve the group.
“We might have to look at left-back because it looks serious with Jetro [Willems].
“It looks as though he has twisted his knee badly.”
Based on Bruce’s comments, the reports in Italy claiming a deal is ‘agreed’ and the fact his agent was spotted at St James’ Park yesterday, it seems one of those players who’s “close” to signing is Inter Milan wing-back Valentino Lazaro.
Get well soon, Jetro!
