2018-19 Newcastle United player evaluation: Florian Lejeune

The Newcastle United defender worked his way back from injury before suffering another major injury.

Injuries are the worst part of sports. They can happen to anyone and can keep a player out for significant amounts of time. For Newcastle United’s Florian Lejeune, he had some major bad luck twice this season in the health department. He suffered a significant knee injury in the preseason and worked his way back, ahead of schedule. Then, towards the end of the Premier League campaign, his year was ended early by another significant knee injury. We look back at a frustrating season for the French defender.

2018-19 Premier League stats: 12 appearances, 81 accurate long balls, 31/48 aerial duels

Durim Halimi

Florian Lejeune is one of the toughest players I know, both physically and mentally. It is never easy seeing a player who worked so hard to recover from a serious knee injury go down a few months later with the same severe injury, but that happened to Lejeune. The central defender looked solid in the 12 matches he played for the Magpies this season, but he is now becoming injury prone and this raises concern.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: Florian Lejeune of Newcastle United runs with the ball past Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /

Had Lejeune stayed healthy for the remainder of the season it is fair to assume that Jamaal Lascelles’ role as a regular starter would have been in jeopardy. Lejeune was aggressive when he needed to be, maintained an impressive passing accuracy and was an aerial threat for the Toon in the penalty area. For now, I will say that Lejeune will come off the bench as he recovers from his injury and returns to full fitness, but it would not surprise me if he started a few games towards the end of the season.

2019-20 NUFC outlook: Quality rotational player

Carson A. Merk

You really hate to see players go down with injuries and it’s especially devastating when it happens again shortly after returning. Lejeune’s comeback this season was inspiring and he seemed to overcome some early rust to remind us why he was a great signing in the summer of 2017.

When healthy, he’s a starting caliber central defender, able to nail long diagonal passes. But, when you suffer two major knee injuries in the span of 12 months, that’s not a great indicator you can be relied upon to be available. Depending on the primary formation next season, Lejeune should be the third defender behind Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles. He could push Lascelles if the captain has another sub-par season, but otherwise, he will be the extra defender in a five-man back line or will be the first choice rotation man.

2019-20 NUFC outlook: Quality rotational player