'Long and tough' - Newcastle United winger ruled out for 17 months issues ACL injury update
Newcastle United injuries: Under-21s player Johnny Emerson marked his return to playing after more than a year on the sidelines.
Newcastle United winger Johnny Emerson returned to action for the first time since April 2025 after a lengthy injury absence.
The 20-year-old was a second-half substitute as Newcastle Under-21s lost 2-1 at Boreham Wood in the National League Cup.
Emerson was recovering from a hernia operation when he suffered an ACL injury which required surgery last October. The injury ultimately ruled him out for the entire 2025/26 campaign.
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NUFC’s ACL injuries
Newcastle have had several ACL injuries at first-team level in recent seasons, with Sven Botman being ruled out for 10 months while Emil Krafth missed 14. Jamaal Lascelles suffered an ACL injury in March 2024 in what proved to be his last first-team start for Newcastle.
Emerson’s return to playing following his ACL knee surgery was less than a year, though his previous fitness problems prior to the operation saw him miss 17 months of action in total.
Johnny Emerson reacts to Newcastle United return
Emerson initially broke the news of his ACL injury via his Instagram account last year, as he posted an image of himself in a hospital bed along with the caption: “Heartbroken to have torn my ACL, but successful surgery and recovery starts now.”
But this week saw him issue a positive update as he reached a significant milestone in his recovery.
The youngster posted an image of himself in action at Boreham Wood, along with the caption: “511 days since my last game. Been a long and tough journey with injury but grateful to be back on the pitch and to everyone that helped along the way.”
Emerson has been a key part of Newcastle’s Under-21s squad in recent seasons and even earned a call-up to Eddie Howe’s first-team squad for the pre-season trip to Hull City in July 2024, shortly after signing his first professional contract with the club.
The Carlisle-born, Scotland youth international made his first-team debut off the bench against Hull before going on to make 18 appearances for Newcastle Under-21s in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy last season, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
But the highlight of Emerson’s time at Newcastle’s academy so far came in the 2023/24 UEFA Youth League as he helped Newcastle claim their first-ever win in the competition by scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.