Steve Bruce lauds player whose Newcastle United future is in the balance

Yedlin was made available for transfer last summer with his contract expiring at the end of the season, but the defender ended up staying at St James’s Park.

And the 27-year-old, signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 following the club’s relegation from the Premier League, ended the year in Steve Bruce’s starting XI.

Yedlin is expected to start Sunday’s home game against Leicester City ahead of Emil Krafth – who is recovering from Covid-19 – and Javier Manquillo after impressing in Wednesday night’s goalless draw against Liverpool at St James’s Park.

“I've been absolutely delighted because he's come in from the cold with the problems that Manquillo has got, and Krafth had, and he's grasped the opportunity,” said Bruce, United’s head coach.

“I'm sure there were times when he thought his future maybe was not here.

“We've got three recognised right-backs or wing-backs – if you put Jacob Murphy into the mix too, who's had a good start to the season, then we've got competition there – so when he's grasped his chance like he has done, I couldn't be more pleased. He's given us a glimpse of what he can do and I'm delighted for him."

Yedlin, reportedly a target for Trabzonspor this month, could opt to run down his contract at Newcastle and leave on a free transfer in the summer.

Meanwhile, Bruce has revealed that defender Ciaran Clark, also out of contract in the summer, is in talks over a new deal at the club.

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