Newcastle United were handed a much-needed boost ahead of Sunday’s crunch tie against Sunderland with the news that Congo international Chancel Mbemba passed a fitness test this week and is available for selection this weekend.
After suffering a heel injury during our 3-0 loss to Everton back in February, the centre back has not featured for Newcastle since, with Jamaal Lascelles coming in to deputise for the 21-year-old.
With the Magpies conceding 54 goals in the league this season (only Villa have conceded more with 57), manager Rafa Benitez will need all the help he can get defensively with captain Fabricio Coloccini’s availablity for the Tyne and Wear derby still hanging in the balance.
The Argentine international suffered a calf injury during Newcastle’s training camp in La Manga back in February and it is still not known whether he will be ready in time for Sunday.
I don’t mean to put a damper on MBemba’s return but he was in the team when most of those 54 goals were conceded. Anyway, here is my guess at the team:
Elliot
Janmaat Taylor MBemba Colback
Sissoko Wijnaldum Shelvey Townsend
Perez Mitrovic
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If he wants a holding midfielder he will drop Perez and move Wijnaldum to number 10. Actually that is probably what he will do and bring on Perez or de Jong later.
Don’t know if Tiote is fit so that leaves Anita again or Saivet.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Too early to start for mbemba.
I’d go with your team Eric, apart from mbemba
Gashley(Quote)
Have to admit this is the most nervous I’ve been approaching a match since our last relegation season. It really is all on the line for us. It wouldn’t be impossible to stay up if we lost but surely the odds would swing a long way against us.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The players will come through for wor Rafa. It feels good to say wor Rafa instead of wor Wally doesn’t it?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Chancel Mbemba! Chancel Mbemba!
Oooh! Aaahhh!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Howay the lads!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Is it too early for Mbemba? Would he be better than Taylor or Lascelles even in his first game back? I’d pick him because I would hope being at home against a team that regardless of whether big rivals or not, are still 4th bottom so I don’t expect our defence to be too busy.
Stuart79(Quote)
@stu
He’d do better than any of our defenders but I can’t see Rafa risking him so soon.
Lascelles has played well recently, It would be a hard choice who to drop for Mbemba.. if he’s fit and ready
Gashley(Quote)
Why don’t we have flags on match day? It does look good if everyone has flags of different things.
Stuart79(Quote)
What is Steven Taylor injured again what a useless piece of ****. I hope they cancel the useless feckers contract.
Terry(Quote)
Steven Taylor can never stay fit, his not a good defender, just like the rest wants to be on the injury table and get paid for **** all.
Terry(Quote)
I might risk MBemba if the Mackems play Defoe and Borini who do not have much height but are tricky. We might need a more mobile presence alongside either Taylor or Lascelles.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I like that Rafa has cancelled the players’ days off until the end of the season. However, I bet that doesn’t happen and that they get a day off after a win as a reward. So, instead of being a right under McClaren it will be a bonus for playing well.
I am sure they will be given some time off during the international break.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I also read what Carra said about Rafa, that a lot of the training was drills, drills, drills. To make it automatic that the players knew what they should do and where they should be. This sounds exactly what our lot need as I think they have the skills and they seem fit enough (though injury prone). I will find the interview and post it.
I am glad to hear this, because double sessions on fitness might have got them too knackered to play, but they still probably needed a bit more work.
It is so odd that they got so many injuries. I saw the pre-season game in Milwaukee and they did at least an half an hour of warming up before the game and the same of cool down stretches after the game. Schteve and his staff seemed to take that part of it very seriously.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Carra on Rafa:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-liverpool-fc-ace-carragher-11065005?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I would personally consider putting Mbemba at RB and move Janmaat up the pitch as he is probably our most creative player and certainly the best deliverer of the ball from the right.
Sharpy17(Quote)
staylor has probably injured his gob
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM: didn’t Andy Carroll do that for him a few years ago? Got wired shut if I recall.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
aye he did eric
Munich Mag(Quote)
I see there’s a quote link but still no numbers for posts.
What about a delete link so if you want to delete someone’s post cos it’s ****. Thar would be handy. 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I can’t see Rafa risking Mbemba just yet, for me if the defence play the way they played on monday we’ll be ok .
Now for a wee rant Andy or Nicky as we know you cant get the new article link down near the comment box. But would it not be easier when you post a new article to put a comment up saying New Thread , twice yesterday I was stuck on the old article because to keep scrolling from the top to the bottom just eats my phone battery, and makes the blog a lot harder to enjoy.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave, same here,I was refreshing and thinking wow, can’t believe no ones on here, then realised 2 new articles had gone up! 😳 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Not sure he’ll risk Mbemba in such a big game. As for Taylor, it is impossible for the lad to remain fit, it’s quite staggering how injury prone he is. Reckon he needs to retire.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric…but most those calls were also conceded with Schteve as manager 😉
Clean slate for all of the players imo.
I was stuck on an old thread too, just thought it was me and Kim which in itself isn’t a bad thing though she may disagree 😆
I’d rather ensure Mbemba is fit for the other 8 games “if” there’s any doubts about him.
richietoon(Quote)
I thought Saylor was only a slight knock and should be ok
Big Dave(Quote)
Big D: with Taylor you never know, slight knock could turn into leg amputated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
eric 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
3-0
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu ? Is that the scoreline you think we’ll get , or is that what you wish for ?
Big Dave(Quote)
I see Rafa brought in a specialist striker coach for Mitro,
So hopefully that will help him to start hitting the back of the net.
Big Dave(Quote)
New Thread>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
richietoon(Quote)
Cheers Richie 😉 as it is a bit **** sitting here on your own refreshing the page, unless you keep scrolling up and down, which I will give it a miss 😕
Big Dave(Quote)