The Chronicle have shared an insightful piece on Jetro Willems today, revealing what a source close to the Dutchman has told them about his injury status and a potential return to St James’ Park.
German outlet Bild reported yesterday that the 25-year-old was set to miss another ‘8-9 months’ and was now ‘unlikely’ to seal a £10m move to Newcastle as a result – but these claims have been played down.
This comes from a ‘source close’ to Willems, who’s told the Chronicle his comeback remains ‘on schedule’ – with September currently pencilled in – and ‘would say yes’ to rejoining Newcastle United if an offer arrives.
He admits that there’s been no contact from Newcastle over a permanent deal, but insists that this is the last issue on either parties mind given what’s going on in the world right now.
Here’s what he had to say when asked for an update from the Chronicle:
“The comeback remains on schedule, there’s not been any new news from Eintracht Frankfurt or from the player himself.
“He’s working to the original plan (September) and we’ll see what happens,”
“If you had to ask Jetro whether he would go back to Newcastle, of course he would say yes if the option is there because he enjoyed his time at Newcastle. But the recovery is the first thing,”
“It’s ridiculous to write about Jetro not playing for Newcastle next season when no-one even knows when next season begins,”
“Jetro’s return is about football but everyone is just thinking about how the world gets rid of this terrible virus right now.
“I think football has to think that way at the moment – there are bigger things happening than a player coming back.”
Willems himself has since sent a message to fans on social media this afternoon, appearing to take a dig at German outlet Bild – who reported yesterday that he was set to be out until ‘2021’ and miss out on a move to Newcastle as a result:
Hopefully he makes a full and speedy recovery from this latest knee injury (the second of his career) and is back playing in a black and white shirt once all of this has blown over.
