---
title: "Newcastle worry about fitness of key defender ahead of the new season"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2018/07/27/newcastle-worry-about-fitness-of-key-defender-ahead-of-the-new-season/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Elliott Cuff"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2018-07-27T21:21:11Z"
modified: "2018-07-27T21:21:11Z"
---

# Newcastle worry about fitness of key defender ahead of the new season

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is sweating on the fitness of defender Florian Lejeune ahead of the new season.

The 27-year old centre-half has not travelled with the rest of the Magpies squad to Portugal for the upcoming friendlies against Porto and Braga.

Lejeune also missed Tuesday night’s friendly against Hull City with a knee injury, which manager Benitez is beginning to worry could be a more serious injury than some of the other knocks carried by the squad.

![Stu Forster/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2018/07/946598580.jpg)

When asked about absentees at the KCOM Stadium, as reported by the [Shield Gazette](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/rafa-benitez-sweating-on-fitness-of-newcastle-s-florian-lejeune-1-9273825), Benitez said:

> Some of them have little problems.

> The only one that is a bit more serious could be Lejeune. He has a knee problem that we have to assess.

Lejeune was an integral member of Newcastle’s squad last season, making 24 total appearances in the Premier League.