Hopeful Haidara Sets Comeback Target

By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor

Massadio Haidara is hoping to be fit for the beginning of next season as he looks to put an injury-plagued campaign firmly behind him.

The French full-back managed just seven Barclays Premier League appearances last term and could only watch helplessly as the Magpies were relegated to the Championship.

Having suffered a knee injury last September, he was hurt again during training in November and broke down for a third time in March, just as he was closing in on a return to action.

But the likeable 23-year-old is hoping to play a much bigger role as Newcastle aim to bounce straight back to the top flight next season, and will be working throughout the summer before the squad report back to their Benton base for pre-season training at the beginning of July.

"For me personally, and for the Club, it was not a good season," the former Nancy defender told nufc.co.uk.

"But now we have to look forward to next season and try to go up straight away. I think that's the minimum we have to do for the Club.

"For myself, I will try to come back stronger and to be fit for next season.

"I started the first seven games and, while I was a little bit frustrated because the results weren't good for us, I was happy for myself because I started all the games.

"Then I had the first injury. I tried to come back too quickly, maybe, and I had another injury and then my season was finished.

"I think the second one was the worst because I came back after three months out and I'd worked so hard. I'd done everything I could to make sure I came back as soon as possible but maybe I tried to come back too quickly.

"But I'm more frustrated about the relegation because it's hard to go down. No-one wants to go down but we have to put it behind us.

"Next season we have to be at 100 per cent and be really focused to come straight back up."

Paul Dummett and Kevin Mbabu's appearances were also limited by spells on the treatment table and the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Rolando Aarons were pressed into action as emergency left-backs at a critical stage of the campaign.

"It's the first time I'd seen anything like that - everybody who plays in that position was injured," Haidara said.

"It was another example of things not going our way. We had a lot of things against us, but you can't do anything except try to deal with it. The manager (Rafa Benitez) tried to do his best with the players he had.

"I wanted to play. It's always hard when you can only watch. When you see your team mates in difficulty, you want to try to help the team.

"That's what I wanted to do. Dummy was injured too so no-one really could play left-back and I was close to being ready, so that's why I pushed too quick and it (the injury) happened again.

"But now it's in the past and I've learnt from my injuries so I won't make the same mistake again.

"It was hard for me but I always try to keep smiling because I can't change anything. Now it's been nearly two months since I had my operation so I have to do some treatment and rest.

"After two months, I can start to do the bike and after three months I can start to go outside, do the gym and run, and everything else to be ready for the pre-season.

"I think towards the end of pre-season, I will be fully fit - then maybe I will need some weeks of training before I play.

"I don't know if I can start straight away, because it will have been eight or nine months on the sidelines so it's hard to come back straight away.

"So we'll see what happens and how I feel, but hopefully for the start of the season I will be fit."