How Xhemajli's Cats comeback is going & the next steps for defender

Amid the frustration there was one positive to take from Newcastle United's winning goal in the Under23s derby.

Sunderland had been a touch unfortunate, a loose ball breakingkindlyforthevisitors.

From there it was a ruthless move, the impressive Joe White releasing Adam Wilson with a fine through ball. The winger did the rest, firing past Jacob Carney.

For Elliott Dickman the disappointment was in the aggression(orlackthereof)inhis team's defending, for both that strikeandWhite'sdeflectedeffort, which turned a 1-0 deficit intoanultimatelyunassailable lead for the visitors.

Dickman is managing a young side playing an improved brand of football but shipping just a few too many goals. The long-term signs, it should be said, are promising.

That loose ball came after Arbenit Xhemajli crashed into a 50-50 challenge (and won it), showing total trust in his knee after a year on the sidelines.

This was the second game ofXhemajli'scomebackandhe once again came through unscathed, with Dickman outlining the next steps for the Kosovan after the game.

"Definitely [came through successfully]," he said.

"He's in that staged return, with last week, 70 minutes tonight, and then he might be able to build up to 90.

"I think Friday [v Aston Villa U23s] might come a little bit too soon but maybe in our next game he might be able to, with a bit more training in his legs.

"He's been great with the lads, a top professional.”

Even as he builds towards full fitness, Xhemajli is showing the attributes which will make him another welcome option for Lee Johnson.

On a number of occasions Xhemajli stepped in to cut out the early ball to the striker, keeping his side high up the pitchandincontrol.Inpossession his output was mixed, but that spoke to his intent.

In a game where both sides were often a little tentative in possession, Xhemajli was always looking to play forward and often demanded more movement of his team-mates in front of him.

It is clear that the 23-yearoldwillbecomfortableinJohnson's philosophy, and is a fairly natural option to offer competition to Callum Doyle in that ball-playing role on the left of defence.

That is some way off yet, with Johnson clear that it will be the turn of the year at the very earliest that the centreback's return can be assessed more definitively.