Ewen Jaouen injury worse than first feared in fresh blow to Newcastle

Ewen Jaouen has suffered another major injury setback, with the Newcastle United goalkeeper’s latest hamstring problem reportedly worse than first feared.

The 20-year-old had only recently returned from an ankle injury and was enjoying a promising spell with France Under-21s before being forced home early from international duty.

Jaouen set for surgery after latest setback

Lee Ryder of The Chronicle reports that Jaouen now requires surgery on the hamstring problem he suffered while training with France Under-21s.

The Frenchman had started his country’s first two games during the international break, keeping a clean sheet against Estonia, before suffering the injury in training.

It is another cruel blow for a goalkeeper who has already had an interrupted start to life on Tyneside, having only recently recovered from the ankle issue that kept him out of our final three games before the international break.

Jaouen had arrived from Reims in the summer and was brought in as part of Newcastle’s new-look goalkeeping department, but this latest setback leaves Matthias Jaissle with another concern ahead of the return to Premier League action at Coventry on Monday. 

Bayern-linked Pope back in the frame

It could also change the picture for Nick Pope.

The former England international was already behind Lukas Hornicek and Jaouen in the pecking order, with Bayern Munich reportedly monitoring the 34-year-old ahead of a potential move next summer.

But with Jaouen now facing a spell on the sidelines and Hornicek carrying even greater responsibility as our first-choice goalkeeper, we are now just one injury away from needing Pope. 

Jaissle has already admitted that he has spoken to Pope about his situation and would be open to a move if the right opportunity came along, but this latest Jaouen setback could make Newcastle think twice about letting him leave before the end of the campaign.

For now, hope will be needed that Hornicek stays fit, because Newcastle’s goalkeeper situation has suddenly become a much bigger concern again.