Newcastle United winger Ryan Fraser has had an injury disrupted start to the new season.
The Scotland international has only played about 10 minutes so far, coming off the bench in the opening day victory over Nottingham Forest.
He then missed the trip to Brighton with a back spasm, then spent the entire game against Manchester City on the bench. A groin problem stopped him from coming on against the champions.
Eddie Howe has since stated that the club are waiting for the results of a scan to determine how long he will be out of action for.
Fraser will be praying it isn’t long, and will be desperate to be involved against Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday night.
Fraser is missing opportunities to prove his worth due to injury
Given how well Miguel Almiron did in pre-season, it always seemed likely that Fraser would start the campaign on the bench. However, he will be disappointed that he hasn’t been able to play more. He certainly would’ve came on as a sub in the games against Man City and Brighton if he’d been fit.
And he would be a guaranteed starter against Tranmere. However, that is no longer the case. Unless the results of this scan are positive, it is likely that Fraser will once again miss out.
That would be a big blow to the 28-year-old. The Carabao Cup is the perfect opportunity for him to get some minutes in the tank and prove to Howe that he should be starting. But he can’t do that if he’s injured.
And with talk of a new winger arriving before the transfer window closes, Fraser could soon find himself even further down the pecking order.
After a positive start to the year, injuries have really hindered the former Bournemouth man. He was brilliant when Howe first arrived, but fitness has once again been an issue, like it was in his first season at St James’ Park.
The last time Fraser started for Newcastle in a competitive game was the 1-0 win over Wolves in April. He was forced off early on that night, giving Almiron the chance to stake his claim.
Miggy took his opportunity, while Fraser was forced to watch on from the stands. Now it’s Fraser who needs an opportunity, and the trip to Tranmere is exactly what he’s looking for.
A game against lower league opposition could give Fraser the chance to build up some fitness and gain some confidence. However, he can’t do that if he’s injured.
Newcastle have had a really good start to the season, but for Fraser it’s been a nightmare.
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