Pre-season up in the air for American ace

US DUTY COULD HIT PLANS

DEANDRE Yedlin could miss pre-season with Newcastle United this summer.

But the USA defender is eager to be “match fit” for the Premier League opener on August 12.

United are set to return for preseason training on July 3 before heading off for a training camp a week later.

But Bruce Arena and the United States national teamwant Yedlin to play in the Gold Cup - a tournament that clashes with United’s pre-season plans.

The 23-year-old could face a very busy summer.

The US play Venezuela in a June friendly with World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico to follow before the Gold Cup starts.

Were the States to reach the final, Yedlin could be away until July 26 - little more than two weeks before the season opener. Newcastle may then have to give him a rest after the Gold Cup. Yedlin told the Chronicle: “The Gold Cup is in July during pre-season so I will have to speak to the national team coach and see what the plans are. “I will speak to Rafa and see what he thinks. We will see what happens with that. You can look at it both ways. “You want to be here for pre-season and be around the guys and get used to each other. “But there is the point to it where I would be match fit and ready. “We will see what happens.” Yedlin has had time to look back at Newcastle’s dramatic title win since the season closer. And he believes the battling spirit that won them the title could carry into the Premier League next season. He said: “It was great. “We didn’t know what would happen with the Villa v Brighton game but fortunately we got a good result and got one here to come out one champions.

“In the last three games, we did what we needed to do.

“We have shown great character. We could have given up and just taken the automatic promotion.

“But we fought in the last three games and got what we deserved.

“All year we have been very good. We had ups and downs but every team does, and for the most part and that’s a very good sign.

“Hopefully we can use that next year in the Premier League.”

Yedlin warned Championship life is tough - something his old club Sunderland will take note of.

He said: “It’s a very physical league. A lot of people don’t know how tough this league is.”

“For what we have accomplished is great for us, the city and the fans.”