DeAndre Yedlin avoids serious knee injury, will return to training 'shortly'

Newcastle United has confirmed that DeAndre Yedlin’s knee injury, suffered late in a Premier League-opening 2-1 loss to Tottenham last weekend, is “not serious.”

Four days after the U.S. men’s national team’s starting right back reportedly left St. James’ Park on crutches, Newcastle provided an official injury update: Yedlin, it said, “has been assessed and undergone treatment this week and is likely to resume training with his teammates shortly.”

Yedlin sustained the injury while challenging Ben Davies for a ball in the right corner in the 90th minute. He got a touch, but landed awkwardly when he planted his right leg. His knee appeared to hyperextend:

Yedlin was attended to by Newcastle’s trainer, who performed various manual tests on the right knee. Newcastle had no substitutes remaining, but Yedlin could not return.

He did walk off the field, but with help from the trainer, and with a heavy limp. He was later shown walking gingerly up the stairs in the tunnel, one by one, with his arm around a member of Newcastle’s staff.

Yedlin started the game and would have gone the full 90. He has established himself as Newcastle’s first-choice right back, appearing in 34 of 38 Premier League games in 2017-18. The injury, if serious, would have been a major blow for the player, his club, and his national team.

But Yedlin appears to have avoided any major structural damage. He presumably might miss Newcastle’s trip to Cardiff City this weekend, but should return to the lineup soon, and could feature for the U.S. in September friendlies against Brazil and Mexico.

– – – – – – –

Henry Bushnell covers global soccer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook.