Injury thread

[Trim]

Good to hear Given is back..

[kennethlindheim]

It's a huge relief as Harper has proved that he ain't in the same league as Given.

If we're gonna do anything in the UEFA and push up the league we need Given to be fit for it all.

[kennethlindheim]

Emre makes a welcome return to the Newcastle United picture for the first time since New Year's Day in tomorrow's UEFA Cup tie with AZ Alkmaar at St James' Park.

Glenn Roeder has included the Turkish international in his squad for the first time since the 2-2 draw with Manchester United on January 1.

And there was further good news for the United boss today when Republic of Ireland international Stephen Carr pronounced himself fit after sitting out the last five games with a thigh injury.

With Michael Owen, Shola Ameobi and Celestine Babayaro still long-term injuries, and defenders Craig Moore and Peter Ramage not quite ready to return, this just leaves Roeder waiting to find out if Damien Duff has recovered from the flu bug which saw his miss Saturday's disappointing goalless draw with Middlesbrough.

Roeder is delighted to have Emre back in his squad, although it is still doubtful whether the midfield dynamo will make tomorrow's starting line-up.

The United boss said today: "Emre is back in our squad and I am glad to have him back because his style of play is suited to European football. Before New Year's Day, when he picked up that calf trouble, he had had his longest injury-free run since he came here from Inter."

This is a crucial time for Emre - he faces an FA Commission a week on Monday on a charge of racial abuse and, now that he served his international ban, he hopes to play for Turkey in Greece on March 24.

But the most important thing is that Emre is back in a black-and-white shirt tomorrow night as United defend their unbeaten European record this season.

Added Roeder: "Emre has been a bit down but now he is feeling good about himself and it's good to have him back."

The same applies to Carr as, with Babayaro back in the treatment room yet again, the Republic of Ireland defender is an option at left-back.

icNewcastle - Emre boost for United

[kennethlindheim]

C Babayaro hamstring 31st Mar 07
S Carr thigh 31st Mar 07
S Ameobi hip 10th May 07
M Owen knee (ACL) 10th May 07

Only four injured players now. There is no excuses for Roeder now.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle defender Peter Ramage will return from injury for the reserves on Monday night.

The 23-year-old has recovered from the hamstring problem which has sidelined him since the 2-2 Premiership draw with West Ham on January 20.

Ramage has managed just three appearances since the turn of the year because of the persistent injury after firmly establishing himself in Glenn Roeder's back four.

He has played most of his senior football this season at left-back but will line up alongside teenager Paul Huntington in his more favoured central position against Liverpool's second string.

A largely inexperienced Magpies side will also include Matty Pattison, James Troisi, Kazenga LuaLua and Andrew Carroll, who have all been involved in first-team squads this season.

Ramage to return for reserves - Newcastle - TEAMtalk Football News

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle United have received an unexpected but welcome boost from Aussie defender Craig Moore.

When the 31-year-old central defender limped off with groin trouble in Saturday's dismal defeat by Manchester City at St James' Park, there was a fear that he could have played his last game for United.

But boss Glenn Roeder told me today: "By getting Craig off the field when we did, we prevented any serious damage to his groin.

"He will be back training with us again by Thursday and we feel that he has a genuine chance of playing against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

"Stephen Carr also took a knock on Saturday, but he will also be back on Thursday and will be OK for the weekend."

Moore has had his injury problems since Graeme Souness brought him to St James' from Borussia Monchengladbach on a Bosman in the summer of 2005.

But when he has been on the field he has never let United down, and it is surely no coincidence that within six minutes of him limping off on Saturday and being replaced by Oguchi Onyewu that Emile Mpenza scored City's winner.

Gooch certainly did himself no favours Saturday by failing to stop Mpenza and then missing what looked a most reasonable header at the other end of the field in injury time.

And with Titus Bramble not even making the bench against Manchester City and Peter Ramage not match fit, if he is OK Moore could again get the nod to again play alongside the impressive Steven Taylor against a Blades side who will be without their top striker in broken-leg victim Rob Hulse.

icNewcastle - There's Moore to come from defender Craig

[kennethlindheim]

DAMIEN Duff will have a scan on his ankle this week after limping out of Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Portsmouth.

The Irish winger was forced to leave the field late in the second-half after he was unable to shake off a knock to his ankle following a challenge by Garyb O'Neill, for which the Pompey midfielder was booked.

And boss Glenn Roeder told nufc.co.uk: "Damien took a heavy knock to his ankle and it's swollen.

"He'll have to have a scan and it's a bit of a concern, but there is no point saying too much about it until we know what the scan shows."

Newcastle United | News | Latest News | Duff To Undergo Ankle Scan

[kennethlindheim]

Damien Duff has been ruled out of Newcastle United's last four matches of the season after damaging his ankle in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

This was the further bad news on the injury front for United manager Glenn Roeder today.

But at least the United boss hopes to have skipper Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer and Antoine Sibierski back in action for Sunday's game with champions Chelsea at St James' Park.

The Portsmouth fans jeered Duff when he went down without a home player anywhere near him 10 minutes from the end on Saturday.

But it was clear that the United winger was badly hurt - and sure enough Roeder was forced to admit today that his £5m signing will not play again this term.

The United boss said today "While an X-ray has shown there is no break, Damien has a badly swollen ankle, and our medical people tell us that he will not be able to play again this season.

"It's bad luck for Duff coming at a time when he was beginning to show the sort of form we have been looking for from him."

icNewcastle - Duff's season is over: Glenn

What a crappy season he's had. Wasted money.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Do Newcastle still have the biggest injury list in Europe ?

[kennethlindheim]

Throughout a season, yes.

It's been that way for the last three seasons.

[Oliver_Kahn]

There must be a reason for some many injuries though, do you have any idea ?

[kennethlindheim]

Perhaps the training fascilities for starters.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle captain Scott Parker is optimistic he will be fit to play against his former club when Chelsea visit St James' Park this weekend.

Parker signed for Newcastle in June 2005 for £6.5 million and has since made 69 appearances and scored six goals.

The midfielder injured his ankle on Easter Saturday in the Magpies' 2-1 win against Sheffield United.

"I still don't know how I did the injury at Sheffield United," Parker told the club's official website.

"Hopefully I will be able to train on Thursday and be fit to play against Chelsea on Sunday.

"It's always nice to play against your former team-mates and friends, but it's a massive game for us and it will be up to players like myself to try and unsettle Chelsea and get amongst them."

Parker hopeful for Chelsea clash - Newcastle - TEAMtalk Football News

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi has revealed he thought his career would be finished by his hip injury.

Ameobi has been plagued by the problem for two years and has even battled through the pain barrier in the past to play for United.

He has begun his comeback following surgery in recent weeks and his latest outing came as he scored in Newcastle reserves' 5-1 win over Middlesbrough at The Riverside on Tuesday night.

It was the 25-year-old's first competitive game since November when he travelled to the US to undergo an operation with specialist Dr Richard Steadman. He had featured and scored in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Scottish side Gretna last week.

"There was a time when I thought my career was over, I didn't want to make that public until now," he told the Evening Chronicle.

"The backroom staff and the medical team knew the injury would not go away unless it was sorted out properly.

"All credit to them and the guys in Colorado at the surgery.

"I have had the problem for two years and it was career-threatening.

"I can say that now. But I never wanted to think about it as I wanted to get it right. Thankfully that has happened now."

Ameobi's return has come three months ahead of schedule and he is just relieved to have come through the reserve game unscathed.

"It's a bonus to be back now - I never thought this would happen," he continued.

"I was nervous before the match because this was my first game in six months, and it's been a long time.

"You never know how the hip is going to react.

"But it's held up really well and I have to say thanks to the physios and medical staff at Newcastle because they have saved my career.

"I am ecstatic to be able to play this season. I never thought in my wildest dreams that his might happen. It has though, and it was nice."

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World