Injury thread

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi will stake his place for a first-team return when he lines up for the reserves against Bolton on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old has been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair a career-threatening hip injury six months ago and like team-mate Michael Owen, has faced a long haul back to fitness.

However, having played and scored alongside Owen in a behind-closed-doors friendly a fortnight ago and then found the net for the reserves in a 5-1 win at Middlesbrough last week, he is rapidly approaching full fitness.

Ameobi has been named in a young side for Tuesday night's game and is expected to play 70 minutes once again to put himself in line for selection for the Premiership trip to Reading on Monday evening.

That would come as a huge boost to manager Glenn Roeder, who has been unable to call upon the Nigeria-born frontman since he finally had to admit defeat in his attempt to play through the pain barrier in November.

Roeder said: "When Shola went off to Colorado six or seven months ago to have his hip operation, we were told we would be lucky if he was fit to take part in pre-season training in early July.

"The thought of Shola playing again this year is amazing and he must be very pleased with himself because he certainly did not think he would be playing again this year, and now he knows he probably will."

Ameobi started the season as Newcastle's main striker with Owen facing the bulk of the campaign in the treatment room after rupturing in anterior cruciate ligament at the World Cup finals and Obafemi Martins and Antoine Sibierski yet to arrive.

He initially made a good fist of trying to plug the gap left by the retired Alan Shearer, scoring five times in nine starts.

However, the hip injury which had plagued him for around 18 months started to take its toll once again and after rest failed to cure the problem, he was sent to specialist Marc Philippon in America for the operation he thought would end his season.

Such has been his progress since that tonight's game at the Leyland home of the Lancashire FA gives him a genuine chance of regaining a place in the senior side with three league games still to play.

Ameobi continues injury comeback - Newcastle - TEAMtalk Football News

[kennethlindheim]

Shola Ameobi today declared that Monday's TV clash with Reading is now in his sights after getting through 70 minutes against Bolton reserves last night.

The Toon striker's presence could not prevent a 3-1 win for the Trotters - which clinched them the FA Premier Reserve League title - at the Lancashire FA's headquarters in Leyland.

But looking at the bigger picture, a return to first-team duty will be a massive boost.

The striker, who also played at Middlesbrough last week in a 5-1 win, turned out in front of just 255 fans last night, but things will be very different if Roeder gives him the nod at the Madejski Stadium before a sell-out 22,552 crowd.

All of this is a major bonus for the former England-Under 21 ace, who will make his return to action in the Premiership 12 weeks ahead of schedule and will go in against the Royals hoping to add to his five goals.

Whether Michael Owen joins him in Berkshire remains to be seen, with the England striker not involved last night.

But an appearance against Steve Coppell's side is now back on Ameobi's radar.

He said today: "It felt good to come through 70 minutes last night and now Reading is definitely in my sights.

"It wasn't the greatest game last night, but like I said last week, I feared for my career, so this is a big bonus for me.

"I am just glad to be out there and getting the chance to work my way back to the first team."

Ameobi's last appearance for United at first- team level came at Eastlands in November when he was finally forced to throw in the towel after almost two years of hip agony which eventually required an operation.

And , Ameobi will be champing at the bit to be on the bus for United's first competitive visit to the Madejski Stadium.

The Nigerian-born player, just four short of a half-century of Toon goals, wasn't on the scoresheet last night, with David Edgar's strike no more than a consolation.

But Geordie coach Lee Clark did admit Shola's unscathed run-out was a big plus.

He added: "Shola has come through and hopefully he'll be OK for the Reading game.

"It was a frustrating night for him but the most important thing is that he got a good run-out and he did well when he was involved."

icNewcastle - Reading steady go

[kennethlindheim]

NEWCASTLE winger Damien Duff faces six months out after undergoing foot surgery.

Duff, 28, has struggled with injuries since joining the Magpies from Chelsea for £5million last summer.

The Irishman went under the knife last week and club officials hope he will be fit for the start of the new Premiership campaign in August.

But reports from Dublin, where Duff is recuperating, suggest he faces a lengthy lay-off.

A Newcastle spokesman said: "Damien underwent surgery on his injured right foot last Friday.

"He has been sidelined since the game at Portsmouth on April 14 but the operation was a success."

Duff was expected to be a key member of Glenn Roeder's squad after quitting Stamford Bridge in search of regular football.

He was used as a striker and an emergency left-back due to Newcastle's crippling injury list.

But his future could now be in doubt following Roeder's departure and the imminent arrival of ex-Bolton boss Sam Allardyce.

The Sun Online - Football: Injury blow rocks Newcastle

[Oliver_Kahn]

Did he play more than 10 matches this season ?

[kennethlindheim]

He did unbeliveable play 23 games this season. Just a shame that he wasn't involved at all in any of the games.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle United have allayed injury fears for Michael Owen after the striker was stretchered off against Watford on Sunday. Owen, who has recently come back after 10 months out, suffered mild concussion colliding with team-mate Matthew Pattison, but coach Lee Clark said he was fine.

"Michael has simply collided with Matty Pattison. It was a complete accident and luckily Michael is OK," said Clark.

"He was a bit dazed but if we had a game next week then Michael would be completely fine and would definitely play."

Owen's extended spells on the treatment table with foot and knee injuries have blighted his two-year stint at Newcastle.

His lack of first-team action led Freddy Shepherd to hit out angrily at suggestions Owen could leave, saying he should repay the loyalty shown by the club's fans.

But the news that his latest injury is not serious will please England coach Steve McClaren more, with Owen having been called up for a B international against Albania on May 25th.

McClaren is considering rushing the 27-year-old back into the full squad for next month's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Albania.

"Michael is alright. He has a knock," said Newcastle caretaker manager Nigel Pearson. "He has mild concussion so it is no problem."

Owen given injury all-clear - Football - Eurosport

[kennethlindheim]

SAM ALLARDYCE has revealed that he expects to be without left winger Damien Duff until November.

It’s not the news Big Sam wanted to hear as he continues his search for new players for Newcastle United.

The Republic of Ireland international broke the bone which joins his foot and ankle at Fratton Park in the middle of April, and was helped off to a chorus of jeers from the Portsmouth supporters who thought he was feigning injury.

Yet my information is that had United not acted quickly and sent Duff for a scan, his whole career was threatened.

Allardyce told me today: “It’ll be way, way off before we will see Damien Duff playing for us, and really we are talking about November.

“It is a much more serious injury than say the broken metatarsal that Michael Owen suffered.

“And it is not a case of how quickly we can get Damien back, but making sure he is 100% when we do get him back.”

Reading between the lines Duff will do well to play again this year and this will be a big blow to Allardyce and United, even though it has to be said the 28-year-old winger failed to produce his Chelsea form at St James’ Park.

Indeed, he only managed to score one goal – in the win at West Ham in September – in 29 starts following his £5m switch from Stamford Bridge 12 months ago.

But at the same time Duff is still a quality player and the sooner he gets back into a black-and-white shirt the better it will be for United.

icNewcastle - Duff blow for Magpies’ boss

[Pennywise]

I want Duff out. He is injured and injured and will not find his old form back in this club.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Michael Owen has suffered an injury setback after straining a thigh in Newcastle training for a couple of days ago.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Barton injury scare for Magpies

Newcastle United's summer signing Joey Barton could miss the start of the new Premier League season through injury.

The former Manchester City midfielder is understood to have fractured a metatarsal in Saturday's 1-1draw against Carlisle United.

Barton has undergone scans on the injury and could face up to seven weeks on the sidelines should the results come back positive.

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce opted to leave out the likes of Michael Owen and Shay Given for the contest and will now be anxiously awaiting Barton's results.

Allardyce is yet to name his club captain following Scott Parker's exit and Barton has emerged as a shock candidate to Owen and Given to win the job.

"His game is terrific," said Allardyce. "Joey is phenomenal in the ground he covers.

"He's going to drag the rest of the players up to his standard. I just want to see how he handles the responsibility.

"The captaincy may go to someone else, but he leads by example."

Source: Skysports

[Pennywise]

Damn it !

[kennethlindheim]

The season has not even started, yet ten players are injured. What the hell is going on?

-steven taylor

-shola ameobi

-joey barton

-celestine babayaro

-albert luque

-michael owen

-shay given

-emre

-damien duff

-james milner

[lionel]

OMG! 10 injured players???

incredible!

poor owen.. injury after injury

[Pennywise]

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