Florian Lejeune has handed Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez a major injury boost.

The Daily Mail says Lejeune will make a shock return next month despite fears he was set to miss the majority of the season with a knee injury.

His recovery is a major boost for Benitez, who recommended the club use an Italian surgeon he knew from his time managing Napoli.

Rome-based Professor Pier Paolo Mariani performed the operation on Lejeune after he damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in July.

The Magpies boss believes Mariani has shaved four months off the period of absence and rates him as the best knee surgeon in Europe.