Newcastle defender Sterry aiming to be fit for start of season

Newcastle United defender Jamie Sterry hopes to be fit for the new Premier League campaign after undergoing surgery for a groin problem at the end of May.

The right-back, who spent four months of last season on loan at Coventry City, had surgery to repair the ongoing injury, which had plagued him for half of the previous campaign.

Sterry penned a new deal with Rafael Benitez’s men last August.

And the 21-year-old defender, who has just started running again, wants to build his fitness back up to peak levels ahead of Newcastle’s first season back in the Premier League.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

“It had been ongoing for half of the season, I would say – even while I was on loan, my right side was a lot weaker than my left,” said Newcastle-born Sterry.

“My groin had actually gone – that was what the problem was.

“For two weeks after the operation, I couldn’t do a lot – just a bit of upper body work in the gym.

“But now, this week, I’ve started to kick on. I started running on the AlterG on Monday, and by the end of the week I’ll hopefully be running outside.

“From there, it’ll be about getting my fitness back up. I’m ready to work hard, and I’m hoping to be back just before the start of the season.”