Lejeune is back in the fold after long lay-off
RAFA Benitez was a spectator at Whitley Park to run the rule over Florian Lejeune as he made his comeback from injury in Newcastle United second string’s 2-1 win over Norwich City.
The centre-back has played at venues such as the Bernabeu and the Nou Camp, taking on stars like Lionel Messi and Ronaldo in La Liga.
However, after enduring an injury nightmare and some hard months in the treatment room at Benton, the opportunity to run out in front of just 185 fans at the former home of West Allotment FC must have felt fantastic.
Lejeune had picked up his knee problem in a training session in July with an injury deemed so serious the Magpies ended up signing Federico Fernandez from Swansea City.
However, he has made an incredibly quick recovery and now finds himself back in first-team contention before Christmas.
As he walked out Local Hero chimed over the PA system at Whitley Park just a few hundred yards from the training pitches he had gone down on in a crumpled heap just over four months ago.
The man once signed by moneybags Manchester City took his place in the starting line-up with promising youngster Kelland Watts to his left in the middle of defence.
On his right was a teenage leftback in Oliver Walters who has been forced to play on the opposite flank - but Lejeune kept the young lad right by talking to him throughout the game.
It may have been a freezing night in Benton in front of a sparse crowd but the first time Lejeune clipped the ball out of defence looked priceless for the man who has credited Geordie fans as the “driving force” behind his speedy return after a host of messages via social media.
The Frenchman looked comfortable on the ball throughout the first half as he played the ball out of defence and swept away some routine clearances.
He went off at half-time but getting 45 minutes in the tank can only be deemed a good thing for the centre-back who once thought would not kick a ball again this year.
United had tested Norwich after 14 minutes as Cal Roberts slammed in a shot which William Johnson clutched on to low down.
Six minutes later, however, it was the visitors who took control as young Irishman Simon Power burst through the middle before tucking home off the post to beat Nathan Harker.
Four minutes before the break Rosaire Longelo won a penalty after being taken down in the box before Roberts stepped up to score his 11th goal of the season.
Longelo then found himself on the scoresheet just before half-time after Sean Longstaff squared the ball across the six-yard box before he converted coolly in the box.
The second half started with Roberts playing the ball out wide to winger Adam Wilson - but his leftfooted effort was dragged wide of the post.
With 20 minutes to go, Longelo came off and was replaced by summer signing Yannick Toure.
Sean Longstaff had another effort with 15 minutes left as he curled one at goal, but Johnson held on.
A further chance for Newcastle arrived in the shape of a free-kick 25-yards from goal but Roberts’ effort just cleared the bar.
Wilson should have added a third late on after Youre’s cross but he somehow headed wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Elias Sorensen came off in the dying stages after a tough night and was replaced by Mo Sangare.
UNITED: Harker, Walters, Gibson, M Longstaff, Lejeune (O’Connor 46), Watts, Longelo (Toure 71), S Longstaff, Sorensen (Sangare 85), Roberts, Wilson. Attendance: 185. Referee: Simon Lucas.