Former Newcastle United favourite handed shock chance at Dutch club after injury nightmare

Former Newcastle United loan star Jetro Willems has been handed a chance to move on from his injury nightmare after going on trial at Eredivise club FC Groningen.

The 22-times capped Dutch international became a popular figure during an injury-disrupted season-long loan spell at St James Park. After initially being linked with the Magpies almost a decade ago, Willems joined in the summer of 2019 and made his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 home defeat against Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign.

A first goal arrived with a stunning strike in a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool just over a month later and Willems doubled his United tally with another impressive finish in a 2-2 home draw with Manchester City.

However, what looked like a promising season was cruelly ended when he ruptured a cruciate ligament injury in the early stages of a 1-0 home win against Chelsea that all but ended his chances of securing a permanent move to Tyneside.

After his departure was confirmed at the end of the season, Willems said: Speaking previously, Willems felt he had unfinished business on Tyneside: “It’s sad that it ended like that. I feel like I’m not done yet. We will see. It would be great to be back and show them at St James.”

German second tier side Greuther Furth would be his next destination after Willems penned a two-year deal in the summer of 2021 - but his time with the Kleeblätter came to an end when he was released in September last year.

Willems will now hope to secure a deal at Groningen after joining the Eredivise strugglers on trial earlier this week. The 28-year-old has successfully passed ‘a number of physical tests’ and will take part in training over the next few days before the club make a decision over a possible permanent deal.