Olympique de Marseille midfielder Kevin Strootman has taken to Twitter to offer his support to Newcastle United star Jetro Willems, after the defender sustained a season-ending injury.
Willems was forced off after just 15 minutes on Saturday, and head coach Steve Bruce has confirmed that the 25-year-old ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligaments during our 1-0 win over Chelsea.
“It’s what we feared, he’s ruptured his ACL and will miss, obviously, the rest of the season,” Bruce stated. “He’s been a very decent player for us and we’ll miss him. We wish him a speedy recovery.”
The bitter blow will keep Willems on the sidelines for the rest of the season and has thrown doubt over his future at St. James’ Park, with it thought club chiefs will only consider purchasing the left-back from Eintracht Frankfurt ‘when the time is right’.
Everything is currently on hold as to the Toon activating our €11million (£9.3m) option to purchase Willems, though Bruce has not closed the door to the 22-cap international returning to Tyneside ahead of next season.
Willems was making the 18th start of his Premier League career on Saturday, and 19th top-flight outing for Newcastle, having become a mainstay of Bruce’s fold and being involved in four goals (two scored, two assisted).
Former Netherlands teammate and current Marseille midfielder Strootman has backed Willems to come back ‘even stronger’ from his ACL rupture, with the £10.8m-rated ace leading the rally of support on Twitter.
Come on bro, you will come back even stronger💪🏻🔥
— Kevin Strootman (@Kevin_strootman) January 20, 2020
Along with Strootman offering Willems his support, the on-loan Frankfurt star received messages from current Toon teammates Jamaal Lascelles and Allan Saint-Maximin plus former Magpies ‘keeper Tim Krul.
🙏🏾❤️
— Allan Saint-Maximin (@asaintmaximin) January 20, 2020
❤️🙌🏽
— Jamaal Lascelles (@Lascelles16) January 20, 2020
Stay strong my friend 💪🏻 you will be back again 🙏🏻
— Tim Krul (@TimKrul) January 20, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, a youth international has told the club to forget about signing him this month.