Yedlin pleased to be back on road to fitness

NEWCASTLE United defender DeAndre Yedlin admits his road to recovery has been tough - but feels he is now getting back to his best.

The American, who marked his 101st game with his first goal at St James’ Park in the 2-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth last weekend, has made a welcome return to the starting XI after missing months of football.

He made his return to the side with a brief 16-minute cameo in the 5-0 thrashing of Leicester City at the end of September - his first appearance since in April.

A sports hernia had ruled him out for much longer than he expected affecting him not just physically but also mentally.

Yedlin said: “Mentally, I was not really prepared for it because I thought the recovery would be a lot quicker than it was.

“It ended up with me being out for five months and it was supposed to be a six to eight-week recovery.

“I think for anyone that would take a toll on you.

“Now I am getting back into things but I am still not where I think I need to be.

“Before my injury, in mostly every game I played, I did not have the feeling of being completely finished.

“Yet in the two games I have come back into, at the end of them I just felt completely done.

“I probably am working a bit more just because of the system and the way Steve Bruce wants me to play but in terms of fitness I don’t like feeling like I am completely shot after games.”

Yedlin watched from the treatment room as Javier Manquillo impressed at right wing-back before the arrival of Emil Krafth - but his return to full fitness has seen him reclaim his role quickly.

For many, Yedlin’s great attribute is his speed and his ability to get up and down the pitch - emphasised by his back-post diving header against Bournemouth.

The former Spurs and Sunderland man has often heard the claims his speed hides what some perceive to be a weakness defensively - and he admits he has had to learn to ignore it.

Yedlin added: “That is another thing I have learned - to just channel stuff, channel things out.

“It is a funny one but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

“You are going to have people who don’t think the best of you and you are going to have people who think you are great. That is fine with me.

“There are definitely situations where I can be in better positions but speed is probably what I am known for and it is going to help me get out of certain situations.”