Ryan Fraser saw his first competitive action in months last night in Scotland’s Euro warm-up against the Netherlands in Portugal. The 27-year-old came on in the 62nd minute to replace right wing-back James Forrest for a 30-minute run-out. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Fraser hadn’t played since a World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands at the end of March. Ryan scored Scotland’s 4th goal of the match but was playing deeper than usual at right wing-back. He had also scored a few days earlier as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Israel.
However, the winger returned to Newcastle with a groin injury that required surgery. Despite returning to training in May, he ended up missing the final nine matches of an underwhelming first season on Tyneside.
He was seemingly coming into form after his performances for Scotland. He had also started the previous three matches for the Magpies before March’s international break. However, he just could never get going at Newcastle since signing as a free agent in September.
Last month, Steve Bruce expressed some concerns over Fraser playing in the European Championships this summer. This is what the head coach said during his press conference for the Sheffield United win:
“It has been a difficult time for Ryan. Whether he’s going to be picked in the Scotland squad, I don’t know. I would think that would be a gamble given that he’s missed the last six or seven weeks.
“He’s not played any real football or even trained in that period. But with the problems Scotland have, and with being able to pick 26 players, I don’t know. It would certainly be a gamble though.
“Ryan desperately needs a pre-season to get himself right. Pre-season is going to be huge for him, in terms of making sure he’s right for next season.
“It’s going to be key to him because he didn’t have a pre-season the season before, and last year’s was a non-entity for everybody really in terms of trying to have a proper pre-season.
“He’s got a big summer ahead of him, and the same goes for Isaac Hayden and Jamaal Lascelles. All of those people who have been injured with long-term injuries, pre-season is crucial to them.”
If Fraser can stay fit during Scotland’s Euro journey, it could end up being a positive for Newcastle. Fraser will return to pre-season in July with some match fitness and that can hopefully translate into a quick start.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke has also been playing Ryan at right wing-back recently. If Steve Bruce keeps with his 5-3-2 system, Fraser could soon get acclimated to the role and provide some stout competition for Jacob Murphy.
For his part, Fraser feels he will be ready for the Euros. The Chronicle have published the following comments from Ryan on his fitness:
“I’ve been training for the last three or four weeks now. It’s not like I’ve not been doing anything.
“People thought I was coming here with no fitness but I’ve been working hard and been keeping in touch with the gaffer so he’s known the ins and out of the last six weeks.
“I’m fully fit and I’ll use the next two games to hopefully get minutes in and be ready.”
Fraser has been a disappointment at Newcastle but that’s primarily due to his inability to keep fit. As Bruce said a few weeks ago, this summer is massive for him to get off to a good start for next season.
It begins on international duty which always presents an element of risk. Though if Ryan can put in some performances and come back in pre-season raring to go, that could end up being good news for Newcastle.
124 comments so far
John Tudor
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:17 PM
Comment #1Put him on the list
John Tudor
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:20 PM
Comment #2Is he related to Darren anderton
JP...from The Rock
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Comment #3I don’t see Fraser as a RWB at all he should higher up the pitch as a Winger, CF or ST. He’s also the best crosser of the ball we have at the club and is rapid. A great asset to have when fit. It’s been really fustrating not been able to see him play regularly as I rate him highly. Is a good player. Could be our impact sub for when ASM eventually has to be subbed at the hour mark or incase ASM gets injured.
JP...from The Rock
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:31 PM
Comment #4Or ideally could play him with ASM and Wilson up top.
Wor B
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:32 PM
Comment #5Just caught up after some serious spuddling.
Onmeedsun from earlier…
“Switch off, listen to the cricket, play some golf and see what players and owners we have come mid August. Why put yourselves thru any more stress, it’s bad enough during the season.”
Sign me up for the full ‘Onmeedsun’s lifestyle guru treatment’. Who do I make the cheque payable to and what time is the first Webinar?
Stocked up on ‘Woodland Green’ paint today, garden bench and shed getting the treatment this weekend. Plenty ‘Dark Oak’ left for the fence but there’s gonna have to be an awful lot of bum shuffling back and forth to get it all covered.
Finally, joke of the day goes to Lesh for droning on about Greggs deliveries (see what I did there). At least I think it was a joke, if not sign me up for 3 Cornish pasties and a steak bake!
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:37 PM
Comment #6At last, the goal at Leicester where all the players have a touch is at the end of this:
https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1400497509936533504
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:38 PM
Comment #7Bruce sees Fraser as a central midfielder doesn’t he?!!
Scythe For Bruce
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:41 PM
Comment #8Alexander-Arnold is confirmed as being out of the Euros now. Lingard or Wan-Bissaka to replace him?
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:46 PM
Comment #9Emil Franchi@emil_franchi
The next Indiana Jones starts filming in the North East next week Cowboy hat face
Can you give it a North East inspired title? Indiana Jones & the…
—————————————
Indiana Jones & the Gang of Steves
Wor B
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:48 PM
Comment #10NadJ
Fraser clearly has talent, I thought left wing was his most effective position?
He seems a bit of a wrong’un attitude wise but I would love to be proved wrong.
Wor B
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:52 PM
Comment #11Indiana Jones & the Tat shop of Doom
Jail for Ashley
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:53 PM
Comment #12🙂
? 😉
? 😀
XD XD
>:D >:D
? 🙁
? :'(
? 😐
:/ :/
? 😮
? 😛
? >:(
o_O o_O
? 😎
^^’ ^^’
? <3
? 😕
? =^-^=
? 👿
? 😈
? 😳
? 🙄
? 💡
? ❗
? ❓
? :bear:
? :star:
? ➡
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:54 PM
Comment #13Does anyone that watched last nights England game have any comment to make about Saša Kalajdži??
https://youtu.be/AaCTXdvErRA
I wonder if he would do a job for us?
Jail for Ashley
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:55 PM
Comment #14Indiana Jones & The Cathedral on the hill.
Wor B
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:56 PM
Comment #15🙄
Jail and his many moods.
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 6:56 PM
Comment #16Sasa Kalajdzic
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:05 PM
Comment #17Indiana Jones & the relegation battle.
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:06 PM
Comment #18Watching the highlights Sasa (25) looks a bit slow.
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:11 PM
Comment #19Zoom Army: Matt Ritchie
https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/
Jail for Ashley
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:14 PM
Comment #20Wor B
:/
Not another deJong
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:14 PM
Comment #21LOL
martoon
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:18 PM
Comment #22Indiana Jones and the temple of Toon
Romford mag
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:21 PM
Comment #23Indiana Jones and the temple of the unflushable turd
Munster Mag
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:26 PM
Comment #24Great to watch the Leicester goal again. We have certainly graduated beyond hoof ball and miggy even got his head up. Great stuff.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:48 PM
Comment #25Greame Jones and the Mystery of Bruce’s Thick Skull
chancel be a fine thing
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:50 PM
Comment #26Raiders of the lost MASH accounts.
Uncertain Toon/World
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:50 PM
Comment #27I see they don’t like calling the different variants of covid by the country it’s identified in because of the stigma attached so they’ve assigned them to letters of the Greek alphabet.
Doesn’t matter what the variants are called they all belong to the China Virus 🙂
Uncertain Toon/World
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:55 PM
Comment #28Graeme Jones and The Last Cabbage
Wor B
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:57 PM
Comment #29Indiana Jones on the Mund of Positivity in the Jail of Doooom.
Uncertain Toon/World
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:58 PM
Comment #30Graeme Jones and the Kingdom of the Cabbage Heed
Romford mag
Jun 3, 2021 at 7:58 PM
Comment #31Steve Bruce the raider of the lost Gregg’s
Wor B
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:01 PM
Comment #32NadJ
🙄
Look what you did!!!
😆
Jail for Ashley
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:02 PM
Comment #33Where’s Tsunki when you need him 😕
Uncertain Toon/World
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:02 PM
Comment #34Steve Bruce and the Temple of Moles
Mund
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:06 PM
Comment #35Indiana Jones and the invasion of the Bacon Snatchers
“Where’s the Bacon did you say?”
Mund
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:11 PM
Comment #36Indiana Jones and the 5 p.m. Meal Deal at Greggs
Uncertain Toon/World
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:12 PM
Comment #37I picked Kane and Lukaku and auto picked the rest just to join the euro league and get started. And it gave me both Luke Shaw and Ben Chillwell. Dodgy algorithm that has to be!
Mund
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:12 PM
Comment #38Indiana Jones and, Wait, Who Are you Again?… Steve who?
Mund
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:13 PM
Comment #39Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Steve Bruce Sitting Down to Take a Piss
Wor B
Jun 3, 2021 at 8:14 PM
Comment #40Raiders of the Lost (St James) Park