Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce says he was disappointed not to see DeAndre Yedlin afforded some extra rest over the international break so soon after returning from a longstanding groin issue.

Yedlin was an unused sub for the USA's 7-0 win over Cuba in the CONCACAF Nations League clash in Washington DC last weekend, in a game Newcastle would have preferred him to make his international return in.

After Yedlin's long lay off it was expected that he would play in just one game, which proved the case, but his 70-minute run out came just a couple of days before the big clash at Stamford Bridge.

Instead, US boss Gregg Berhalter - who is under fire from Stateside soccer fans - waited until the midweek clash in Toronto to throw fit-again Yedlin into a feisty clash against near neighbours Canada.

Berhalter's side lost 2-0 to the Canucks as the US lost in this fixture for the first time in 34 years, and Newcastle weren't pleased either as Yedlin returned on Thursday after a Transatlantic flight which left him with just one full session to prepare for Chelsea.

Bruce said: "We are a bit disappointed there.

"He has been out such a long time, we could not understand why he didn't play in the first game.

"But he's played 70 minutes on Tuesday and unfortunately they got beat.

"He came in on Thursday and he seems OK.

"Obviously, we will have another look at him this morning but hopefully he'll be alright."

Yedlin's appearance didn't work out for anybody in truth with ESPN handed him a 2/10 score in their ratings after the game when he failed to track back for a goal.

The Toon boss continued: "The most difficult thing with international break is we only got some of them back on Thursday.

"Two of them yesterday just did a recovery session.

"Especially DeAndre who has been the other side of the world.

"That is always a bit of a frustration that you haven't got them all week and the lead up to it.

"We know we are playing Chelsea and we will have to play well.

"Chelsea have won their last four but we look forward to the challenge."