Once again it’s been another year that has been dominated by injury at Newcastle. The yearly curse has arguably struck us harder this time around as, quite simply, our squad lacks strength in depth in certain areas.
Still, I have to credit those players who have come in and done a job and, to use a cliche, have ‘taken their chance’ when they have been called upon to fill in for more established Premier League players.
It’s looks as though those injuries are starting to clear up now though and, fingers crossed, it could be that Newcastle have a nearly full squad to choose from when we reach the final few weeks of the season, so I thought that perhaps I would give a quick update on how things stand with regard to injury at the moment.
Dan Gosling is currently easing himself back into training after suffering a setback upon his return from a long-standing cruciate ligament injury. It will be another longer than expected lay-off for the lad as the club seem keen to handle his recovery using a softly-softly appraoch, which is understandable given the length of time he has been out for.
Ryan Taylor is another player who is back in training and is even closer to returning to first-team action. Taylor played in the reserves last night and had Pedro purring as he put in a strong performance in a 2-0 win against Bedlington Terriers. It’s been three months since Sol Campbell clattered Taylor in training and mangled his ankle, so it’s nice to see him return to action unscathed.
Moving on to another Taylor, Stephen will be back in training on Monday as he steps up his his return from a hamstring injury. It’s been a torrid 13 or so months for the defender who has been hampered by knee and shoulder injuries which has restricted him to only a handful of appearances for the first team.
Shola Ameobi was going to be out for six weeks, and he could still be if he doesn’t feel confident enough to play using his specially fitted face mask that he will be going to the USA to get fitted tomorrow. However, if Shola doesn’t have any issues with said gimp mask then he could be back playing in time for the Bolton game, although a return against Everton in the game after would look to be more likely.
Stephen Ireland is pencilled in to return to training at the end of February having being signed from Aston Villa whilst already suffering a knee injury. The move was initially in doubt after Ireland failed his medical, but upon closer inspection the medical team decided that Ireland would make a suitable recovery. I would say that it’s likely to be towards the end of March before we see the loanee anywhere near first-team action.
And finally, saving the best and most anticipated until last, Hatem Ben Arfa is also scheduled to return to training at the end of the month. A return to first team action will be a while yet as he builds his fitness up slowly and effectively puts himself through another pre-season.
Ben Arfa has been keeping himself in shape whilst he has been on the sidelines, but he will still need to rebuild the muscle in his leg slowly to reduce the likelihood of any form of setback. I would say it’s unlikely that we’ll see Ben Arfa back in the black and white again until the end of March at the earliest, maybe even the first week or two in April to be safe. Either way, I doubt that we will see the best of Benny boy this season and will have to wait until next season to see him back in full flight for us.
So that just about covers all of our injured players and their scheduled return dates. Obviously none of them are set in stone and there is a possibility that they could all suffer setbacks, which would be very Newcastle, but it does look like it will give us extra options as we head into the final few weeks of the season.
Fingers crossed!
About toonsy
A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.
1st? 😉
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Anyone else feel a smidge guilty that Smudge isn’t mentioned?
I know, I know… 🙄
Whumpie(Quote)
I know it’s horrible, I was pleased when smudge was ruled out. I honestly think he considerably weakens the team when he plays and it gives pards less of a headache by leaving out a senior player
Moreno(Quote)
I’ve said it before I’ll say it now…
The two biggest players that caused our relegation due to lack of ability were **** and Smith. Its no coincidence that both players have been relegated in two different teams.
They were the worst midfield pairing the premiership has ever seen and made our defense look terrible because of the pressure they put on us.
JJ(Quote)
Guys,just took a look at the two clubs next 4 fixtures that are currently above us,Bolton and Mackems. First is the Sunderland…
Everton v Sunderland
Arsenal v Sunderland
Sunderland v Liverpool
Manchester City v Sunderland
Next Bolton.
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa
Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers
Birmingham v Bolton Wanderers
And Finall Us.
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers
Newcastle United v Everton
Stoke City v Newcastle United
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
—————————————————————————
That’s spell something!
Europa Here Come!~~ 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
AOD 😆
If all we had left were those games, maybe hahaha
Remember this guy, every team and their mascot were touting him a couple of seasons back, don’t haer about him now
http://www.skysports.com/story/0%2C%2C11095_6747179%2C00%2Ben-USS_01DBC.html
I Love Mike(Quote)
Anyone had a look at the League from last year? It’s crazy how any other year, Bolton quite possibly would have been relegated but now are up in 8th!
14 Bolton Wanderers 38 10 9 19 42 67 −25 39
15 Wolverhampton 38 9 11 18 32 56 −24 38
16 Wigan Athletic 38 9 9 20 37 79 −42 36
17 West Ham United 38 8 11 19 47 66 −19 35
Note the amount of wins against ours
I Love Mike(Quote)
ILM
I wonder if they would’ve banned him if he scored… that would have been funny. 😆
JJ(Quote)
I completely forgot about Smith 😯
Oh well 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy it is easy to forget about the forgotton man 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Also,
With regard to the number of points needed to stay up…
These are the points I can see the bottom sides ending up on…
Wigan 39
West Brom 38
Wolves 36
West Ham 35
Thats being very generous towards all four “W” sides in their remaining fixtures, because they all (especially West Brom) have extremely tough fixtures coming up.
Whats for certain is that three sides starting with a “W” will go down this year.
Wolves and West Ham need a miracle.
West Brom are in free fall and have the hardest run in by miles:
Stoke (A),
Arsenal (H),
Liverpool (H),
Sunderland (A),
Chelsea (H),
Tottenham (A),
Newcastle (A),
Birmingham (A),
Everton (H),
Aston Villa (H)
Wolves (H+A)
Can’t see them getting 13 points from those fixtures to make 40.
West Ham have:
Liverpool (H),
Tottenham (A),
Man U (A),
Chelsea (A),
Man City (A),
Sunderland (H)
Stoke (H)
Bolton (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Blackburn (A)
Wigan (H)
Can anyone see them getting 15 points from that to get to 40?
Wolves themselves will need 16 points from their final 12 fixtures to reach the 40 point mark.
Anyone still think 40 points won’t be enough to survive?
JJ(Quote)
Looking at our fixtures, we only really have three tough games left of our remaining 11. (Man U, Liverpool and Chelsea).
The rest are very winnable. And we only need 5 points. I think one win from our next two games will garauntee survival.
The quicker we get that. The sooner we can sign our players up to new contracts and sign new players up with pre-contracts 😀
JJ(Quote)
smith whos he ??? 😀
icedog(Quote)
Ice hows you mate 😉 I see big bad Toonsy was giving DJG a bit of stick lastnight 😀
Is Smith injured I cant remember
Big Dave(Quote)
Poor ol smiffy 🙁 Was sad to see him injured, its never great, plus we missed the chance to flog him off. Hopefully leeds won’t get promotion this year and will take him next year for his local grit and determination that will push them back to the premier le…blah blah blah.
He was alright last year, but in all honesty he found his level.
NewkieBrown(Quote)
JJ cheers mate I was trying to check the other night who the other teams had to play 😉 I cant see them getting up to the 40 pts mark 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie 😉 you jogged my memory about Smith he is out for a long while 🙁 I do think he would still have something to give to a Championship side if he has a full recovery
Big Dave(Quote)
Messi should have made the **** pay there
Big Dave(Quote)
That Messi fella’s **** like 😀
richietoon(Quote)
If you’re against watching Arsenal – Barca, the Newcastle – Man U youth cup game is here:
http://veetle.com/index.php/channel/view#4d5af2679c9cb
blip(Quote)
I like smith as a person and by all accounts he’s still a force in the dressing room, un/fortunately he ain’t 1st team anymore – his career is almost over so might be an idea to offer him coaching role …… obviously for a lot less than current wages
4411(Quote)
Blip cheers mate will give that a blast mate good pic pity that c@nt Neville is commentating 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave
aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that’s who it was, though I knew hi voice.
Like thrush him like isn’t he 😀
I Love Mike(Quote)
DAVE ime good aye djg sometimes forgets what he said at times,must work for the goverment 😀
icedog(Quote)
trying to spot a bad player on barca side,not easy
icedog(Quote)
ILM he sickens me almost as much as Andy dull Gray 👿
Ice they are pretty tasty at footie 😉 and aye maybe its short term memory loss 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Icedog-David Villa-He’s just a **** leeeeon bestie!
NewkieBrown(Quote)
NB 😆
icedog(Quote)
Lionel Bestie 😀
I Love Mike(Quote)
If things go to form Shola will get his mask and the FA will ban it. And maybe even give him a ban for a few games for illegal gear.
BeeGuy(Quote)
BeeGuy they will ban Joey aswell for being a team mate 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE well that seems fair enough to me 😀
icedog(Quote)
found a bad one the keeper,beat at near post
icedog(Quote)
Ice you dont need to pretend to me anymore, batty allready told me you were just trying to wind me up, and that you are in the JB fan club 😉
Dont worry mate I wont tell anyone else 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Fuk **** fairly came back into this 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Fcking great goal!
Arsenal have just out Barca’d Barca.
Stuart79(Quote)
As soon as they sub off walcott a double salvo…opposite of last year ha. If Arsenal beat Barca and we got 4 points from Arsenal this season-does that mean we’re better than Barca? 😀
NewkieBrown(Quote)
dodgy keeper there imo
icedog(Quote)
dave >>> the fckin **** bandit 😈
batty(Quote)
Ice they still done well though
Batty your spot on mate 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
Batty fb ?? yeah
Big Dave(Quote)
nice to see bolton win, another game for them 😉
batty(Quote)
NewkieBrown
Posted February 16, 2011 at 9:30 PM
As soon as they sub off walcott a double salvo…opposite of last year ha. If Arsenal beat Barca and we got 4 points from Arsenal this season-does that mean we’re better than Barca?
——————————————–
Yes, it does. 😀
MDS(Quote)
dave fb ,dont call me a fat b@stard 🙂
batty(Quote)
mds 😆 ive just been on aboot that
batty(Quote)
BATTY just oot of bed lazy git,hes off to clean ashley windows in the morn 🙂
icedog(Quote)
Ice is right. Keeper should have covered the near post, thats rule no.1.
DJG(Quote)
dog divent forget too drop fat ashes bait off when ya take his dogs for a walk tomoz 😉
batty(Quote)
jay jay…let’s be havin ya! 😀
richietoon(Quote)
Batty is Ice working for him now ? after all he said about him 😆
Batty that should have said SB 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
lucky bumsnel. Barca played them off the park, glad its over 2 legs.
DJG(Quote)
BATTY 😀 😀
big dave might be right what he said aboot ye
icedog(Quote)
Richie its odd without the wee man about 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Seen him at Blackburn and at Brum last neet Dave 😉
richietoon(Quote)
rich was jay pissed ❓
batty(Quote)
Never seen Mess play so badly…
He was completely disinterested in the second half… He was so greedy the whole night too. Should have taken him off instead of Villa. Barca missed Puyol big time and he’s back next game…
JJ(Quote)
He doesn’t drink batty, it’s all a myth. He just drinks some sort of golden coloured pop with some white, sort of frothy stuff on the top 😆
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIE you not been on much m8,still wrapping that wedding pres like 😀
icedog(Quote)
At least we know Toon are now definitely the best team in the world
JJ(Quote)
I’ve been on a bit Ice, but usually I’m gone by the time you’ve finished walking FCB’s dogs! 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Ice everyone one knows your secret job now 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
iam sorry dog i had too tell people what ya do for a living 😉
batty(Quote)
7k crowd for the Wigan v Bolton game 🙄 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
what makes you think its a secret,been dropping batty off there for months,hes moved up to the toilets now,ill stick with dogs batty cannot handle the long walks
icedog(Quote)
tell ya what its realy pissing me off our bairns dieing for the sake of them c@nts across afgan ,it breaks me heart
batty(Quote)
Batty I agree with you 100% mate 🙁
Big Dave(Quote)
aye and them gits payed lads off while on the front line,put them bast@ards up there for a hour 😈
icedog(Quote)
its nearly a year ago when me lads m8 got killed ,he mentiond it today like .
batty(Quote)
BATTY how is your lad anyway,did he gan owr the water for that job m8
icedog(Quote)
Its a disgrace. There’s so many of them living here now, with a british passport, taking benifits, teaching in our schools and they go home and spend all night posting hatred on the internet and planning on how to blow us up. 😐
DJG(Quote)
dog he got back from autria last night ,he went across too see his best m8 who is in the forces snowboarding team ,so he had free digs and a good **** up 🙂
batty(Quote)
BATTY and why not m8,good on him
icedog(Quote)
Batty its hard on them when they loose a mate or mates its something that never go’s away 😥
Big Dave(Quote)
djg aye ya right kidda ,but divent get in to that some 1 will call you racist 😉 my middle name is edl
batty(Quote)
dave a kna it must be ,but his m8s name i will never forget 🙁 theres afacebook dedicated too him ,i read some of the comments and think thank fck that wasent my son ,then feel guilty
batty(Quote)