Newcastle United youngster Johnny Emerson provides update on ACL recovery
Newcastle United winger Johnny Emerson has shared a positive update on his recovery from an ACL injury earlier this season.
The 20-year-old, who underwent knee surgery in October, was initially expected to miss the remainder of the campaign. ACL injuries generally carry a six-to-12-month recovery period, although this varies depending on the player and the rehabilitation process. Emerson, however, has made encouraging progress.
Earlier this season, Emerson faced challenges even before his knee injury, having missed the opening weeks after a summer hernia operation. Despite this, he has now posted on Instagram that he is “back on the grass” four months after his surgery, signaling a key step in his return to fitness.
At Newcastle, other players have faced lengthy ACL recoveries: defender Sven Botman was out for 10 months, Emil Krafth for 14 months, and Jamaal Lascelles did not play again for the club after a knee injury in March 2024.
Emerson has been an important figure for Newcastle’s Under-21s, earning a first-team call-up for the pre-season trip to Hull City in July 2024 shortly after signing his first professional contract. He made his first-team debut against Hull and contributed 18 appearances in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy last season, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
One of the highlights of Emerson’s academy career came in the 2023/24 UEFA Youth League, when he scored the winning goal in Newcastle’s first-ever victory in the competition, a 2-1 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain.
Known for his work ethic, Emerson has consistently focused on improving his game. He has previously undertaken extra training to refine his shooting and crossing, stating:
“To see it paying off feels worth it and hopefully I can carry that on and get in a better place until the end of the season. You’ve got to be selfless for the team but selfish in terms of wanting goals and assists because you want to help the team but strive to be the best player in every game.”
With this determination, Emerson appears set to make a strong return for Newcastle once fully fit.
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