Newcastle United midfielder makes 'buzzing' claim after transfer clause triggered & four months out

Newcastle United midfielder Jay Turner-Cooke is ‘buzzing’ to be back on the pitch after four months out.

The 20-year-old recovered from a hernia injury to return for Newcastle Under-21s earlier this month. He has since started the last three matches for Ben Dawson’s side, including the 2-0 defeat to Leeds United at Whitley Park on Friday night.

Turner-Cooke scored the winner for Newcastle’s first-team in a 3-2 victory at Gateshead and travelled to the United States in pre-season last summer before joining St Johnstone on loan for the 2023-24 campaign. After making six appearances for the Scottish side, Newcastle triggered a January recall clause to cut his loan short.

Reflecting on his injury return, Turner-Cooke told the Newcastle club website: “I was buzzing to be playing again. It's been a tough few months out injured, which I had been carrying for a while when I was at St Johnstone. 

"To be back on the pitch with a smile on my face was all I've needed for the last few months and hopefully I can get a good amount of minutes from now until the end of the season.

"I had some experience last season at Tranmere that I could use positively, which I thought I did, but it's always tough moving away from home and your friends and family but I thought I dealt with it quite well and I have more experience of learning when I was up there.

"It can only help to make me a better player and season for the future. I'm really determined to get back to full fitness, playing like I was prior to the injury. Hopefully, I can do that and end the season on a positive note."

The South Shields born attacking midfielder is contracted to Newcastle until June 2025. He has been named on the bench for Newcastle’s first-team and featured in several friendly matches but is still waiting to make his competitive debut for the club.

Turner-Cooke joined Newcastle’s academy after asking to leave Sunderland in January 2021. His father John Cooke spent 35 years at Sunderland as player and kitman but was made reduntant in 2020.