Defender pushing for Newcastle comeback after TWO years on sidelines

Newcastle United defender Curtis Good made his latest comeback from injury at the Liberty Stadium.
Curtis GoodCurtis Good
Curtis Good

The defender, who missed most of the past two years with hip problems, was in the side beaten 5-3 by Swansea City.

Luke Charman, Dan Barlaser and Callum Roberts were on target for Peter Beardsley’s side, who face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night in their penultimate Under-21 Premier League game of the season.

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Good first suffered a hip problem in March 2014 on his senior debut for Australia.

And the 23-year-old, signed from Melbourne Heart in 2012, had an operation early last year.

Football development manager Beardsley said: “It’d be nice if Curtis is back.

“I can’t imagine what he’s been through, because I’ve never had any injuries of that magnitude and never really had a bad injury.

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“I can’t understand what he’s going through, and I try to help him, but you almost don’t know what to say.

“He’s had two years, and then he’s hurt his calf, and it’s been so frustrating for him.”

Meanwhile, winger Roberts scored Newcastle’s third goal against Swansea.

And the talented 18-year-old is looking to end the Under-21 season on a high and catch the eye of first-team manager Rafa Benitez.

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“I feel like I’ve put in some better performances recently,” said North Shields-born Roberts, who made his senior debut in the FA Cup last season.

“I went through a bit of a spell in the season where I wasn’t really at my best, but I’ve just worked hard in training and it’s producing on the field now, so that’s good.

“It’s all about mentality, really. You’ve just got to try and put it past you, look towards the future games and work hard in training every day.

“I think that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Newcastle: Harker, Sterry (Kitchen, 77), Gibson, Ward, Williams, Good (Adu-Peprah, 46), Roberts, Longstaff, Charman, Barlaser, Gallacher.