Newcastle United goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen has sent an emotional message to supporters after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury he picked up while on international duty.
Jaouen joined the Magpies in June in a £24million deal from Stade Reims and the France under-21 international started the season as the club's second choice goalkeeper behind fellow new signing Lukas Hornicek.
Injury and surgery
The 20-year-old starred in a penalty shootout defeat to Strasbourg where he saved two spot-kicks and then made his competitive debut in Newcastle's 3-2 win over West Brom in the Carabao Cup second round.
However, he picked up an ankle injury that ruled him out of four matches before the September international break where he was fit enough to join up with Les Bleus' under-21s side.
After making two starts for his country, Jaouen cruelly picked up a hamstring injury in training and United head coach Matthias Jaissle confirmed last week that he is set to miss a couple of months of action.
Message to fans
Jaouen has since had surgery on the injury and he took to Instagram on Thursday night to update supporters claiming a 'new challenge starts today' as he begins his rehabilitation.
"Every setback has a purpose," Jaouen posted. "I got injured while on international duty, but I know this is just another step in my journey. A new challenge starts today and I’m already locked in on what’s next. Fully focused on my comeback. See you soon @nufc."
Recovery and competition
Jaouen will hope to be back in action before the new year where he can set about pushing Hornicek for the number one spot and make his long-awaited second appearance for the club.
In Jaouen's absence, Nick Pope has been recalled from the cold and been on the bench for each of Newcastle's last five matches across all competitions.
The England international was told he had no future at the club ahead of Jaissle's first game in charge away at Valencia in pre-season but failed to find a move away from Tyneside.
The 34-year-old had tentative interest from the likes of Ipswich Town, Leeds United and Celtic but none of those clubs made a formal bid and Pope had been set for a season as the club's third choice goalkeeper, having been Newcastle's number one for the last four years.
He has since been linked with a move to Bayern Munich and the former Burnley shot-stopper is out of contract at St James' Park at the end of this season.
