The news is that both Kevin Nolan and Steve Harper have/will undergo surgery on respective ankle and knee injuries with the aim of ensuring that the pair are fit and ready to join in with the pre-season programme which kicks off in July.
To be honest I can’t say I’m overly bothered. Sure it’s a shame that we’ve lost two players, but I’m sure we can cope for two games. Safety is assured and there isn’t an awful lot left to play for other than trying to get into the top ten so why not send them off now and make sure they are right for next season.
A club statement said: “Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan will undergo a minor operation on his right ankle later today which will see him miss United’s last two games of the season.”
“The skipper has been troubled by an ankle problem throughout the season but the operation is going ahead now in order to allow him time to regain full fitness prior to the start of United’s pre-season programme in July.”
“Meanwhile keeper Steve Harper will undergo a planned operation on his left knee tomorrow with the aim also being that he is ready for pre-season.”
So there we have it, official and everything. Now we just have to try and work a way around the loss of those two.
To be fair, replacing Harper is easy. Tim Krul was already in goal so all it will take is a change of personnel on the bench with Ole Soderberg likely to get the nod. Replacing Nolan is a whole different kettle of fish however as we are already struggling with midfield injuries.
We could play Wayne Routledge on the right and slip Joey Barton into the middle, or we could rush Alan Smith back and play him instead. We could play Shane Ferguson on the left and switch Jonas Gutierrez out to the right. Cheik Tiote’s end of season break may have to be put on hold aswell, which could, and probably will, have a knock on effect for the start of next season. Plenty of options – none of them tested.
Something isn’t right with these injuries, although to be honest the injuries to Harper and Nolan have been fairly long-standing. I know Harper once said that he has trouble with his knees and will probably retire because of them while Nolan has been carrying an ankle knock for some months now. In fact a quick look at the archives shows reports of Nolan playing through an injury since as far back as February.
Still, at least they’ll be fine for next season. Maybe.
Get Nolan to sign that contract extension before we start forking out for expensive ops!! 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Didn’t Nolan have that problem when he joined us as well and got it sorted the summer we went down.
dan4toon(Quote)
Still no news on Haris?
Moreno(Quote)
I thought vuckic was still recovering from injury
AndrewT(Quote)
always trouble where ever RICHIE gans,bloody earthquake noo 😆
icedog(Quote)
Dan – Match report sorted. It will be up at 5pm 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
dan4toon(Quote)
Do you lot think all these injurys are just pure bad luck or something is wrong in training?
Josh-NUFC(Quote)
On their careers…
Stuart79(Quote)
Good time to have the operation, Nolan must have had this problem for a while so’s he obviously played through the pain. As long as he’s ready to go in pre season thats fine for me.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I dunno whats happening with Routledge either because he said on twitter before he’s still in London, has he trained with us since the Championship season ended?
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Harper, Guthrie, Gosling, Ireland, Nolan, Best, Smith, Ben Arfa…3 more and we could field 11 wounded players….nice.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
NorCal,
try Williamson, Vuckic and LuaLua for your team 😉
Moreno(Quote)
Oh yeah, completely forgot about Williamson.
Are Vuckic and Lua Lua official first team though? But, i see your point.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Is it wise to rush Smith back? It might just be a bit early!
lesh(Quote)
i would rush smith “back”,reet back behind the goal 😐
icedog(Quote)
Before we signed Tiote Smith was playing really well cm, I’d have no worries playing him but it he isnt fit theres no point.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Won’t be fit enough, I’d be amazed if he gets a start…….not as amazed as I would be if he ever scores a goal tho 😉
richietoon(Quote)
not fit enough,thank god for that 👿
icedog(Quote)