Ex-Newcastle United youngster facing lengthy spell out after suffering another serious cruciate ligament injury

Former Newcastle United Under-23s winger Jamie Holmes is to spend a second consecutive season on the sidelines after suffering another serious cruciate ligament injury.
St James's Park, home of Newcastle United.St James's Park, home of Newcastle United.
St James's Park, home of Newcastle United.

The 22-year-old was released by the Magpies in the summer of 2017 after starring alongside the likes of Sean Longstaff, Liam Gibson and Dan Barlaser in the club’s academy setup.

He went on to join South Shields and spent a season with the Mariners before helping Blyth Spartans reach the National League North play-offs during a one-year stint in Northumberland during the 2018-19 campaign.

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Holmes followed former Spartans boss Alun Armstrong to Darlington last summer but missed the majority of his first season with the Quakers after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Gateshead in the first week of the campaign.

After undertaking a painstaking recovery and extensive rehabilitation programme, Holmes was set to make his comeback with the new National League North season just days away.

But he is now facing up to a second consecutive season out of the game after a re-occurrence of the same injury in a training game against Gateshead last week.

“The kid hasn’t done anything wrong,” explained Quakers boss Armstrong.

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“He was flying last pre-season, then the injury happened against Gateshead and it was a massive blow.

“He battled so hard to get back, he even said he was the fittest he had been, fitter than when he was at Newcastle, and now this has happened.

“Jamie would have been the one player that nobody has seen at Darlington and he was going to be my surprise package.

“It’s such a shame it’s happened to him, he’s such a talent and I hope the Darlington supporters will be able to get to see what he can offer when he makes his comeback.”

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