Good News On Newcastle Injury Front

Wednesday February 27th, 2008 by Ed Harrison· 43 Comments

Kevin Keegan has received some very good news on the injury front today.

Mark Viduka - fit for Blackburn on Saturday

Mark Viduka has trained all this week and it looks like he may be fit for Saturday’s game against Blackburn Rovers. Of course he hasn’t played for a while so he will be short on match fitness.

Mark continues to have several set-backs to his calf and hamstring injuries, and Keegan is hoping these injuries will now be behind the Aussie striker. So do we because Mark can be an important player us for the rest of this season, if he can only remain fit.

Mark is an experienced front man and one ability he has in abundance is to hold the ball up, which we have been missing a lot in the last several games. Alan Smith is just not a good front man, especially when he is playing alongside Michael Owen.

It also looks like both Emre and Oba Martins may be fit enough to participate on Saturday too, but again the two players will lack match practice.

Oba Martins has never played for Keegan yet, having arrived back from Ghana with a sprained ankle, which has caused our medical staff some difficulties in getting fixed. But the good news is that Oba is now back in training, and has an even chance of being ready for Saturday’s game.

Emre - could be fit for Saturday - hope so

Emre has also seemingly recovered from his calf muscle strain. If he is fit we would hope that Keegan will give him a start, since we really need his creative abilities against Blackburn. We have missed Emre these last few weeks, since Joey Barton has been out of form and hasn’t been able to provide the creative opportunities our strikers rely on.

Our £6m Spanish Under-21 international Jose Enrique is not injured, contrary to some rumors, and it has been a mystery to most fans why he hasn’t been used more this season. Keegan has tended to play young Charles N’Zogbia at left back but Charlie could be better employed up front where he can be a threat to any defense.

Enrique has looked more than decent when he has played, so we’d really like Kevin to address this point at some time. As we say, it’s all a little bit of a mystery at the moment.

There’s no doubt that until we can start to put a win streak together every Premier League game gets more and more important. The match against Blackburn on Saturday is no different and we just have to get that elusive win, sooner rather than later.

Comments are very welcome, but please keep them decent - many thanks.

Tags: Newcastle News · Injuries

43 responses so far ↓

1 ObaFan2 // Feb 27, 2008 at 16:41

Some good news especially Oba but weird about Enrique as he’s our only proper lb and looked good when he has played.

Also more good news that barton can’t return to Liverpool and play against them
2 Jon // Feb 27, 2008 at 16:47

Yeah good to have Oba back but someone must find out what’s wrong with Enrique???
3 Tripp // Feb 27, 2008 at 16:55

I really wish the club would make some kind of statement. It would put to rest the speculation. If the lad’s unhappy though he hasn’t come out and said anything unlike Rozehnal. You gotta give him credit for that. From our perspective he’s got every right to be ticked off.
4 GP // Feb 27, 2008 at 17:25

Stephen Carr has convinced Enrique to scarper to Northern Ireland to join the IRA so he can play left-back every game. It’s all a part of his plan to get Newcastle relegated. Carr you clever son of a bitch.
5 Pete // Feb 27, 2008 at 17:33

I doubt we’ll see “win streaks” of more than 1 this season Ed, but I admire you’re optimism!
6 Carr is shite // Feb 27, 2008 at 17:40

We got to keep the faith in kk and hope for the

best.
7 Baker // Feb 27, 2008 at 17:43

Oba and Owen up front playing off Viduka.

This could be something special
8 milnerfan // Feb 27, 2008 at 17:54

good news about the injuries clearing up. However i still see the starting line up with smith and butt. I think we need to field our strongest squad on sat. If we dont win on sat then its defo gona be religation battle. Which we will win
9 Carr is shite // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:00

Actually i like the idea of duff playing in the hole

behind the strikers and let n.zogbia free on left

wing. Duff’s best position could be as a

playmaker as he do not have the pace as a

winger.
10 Davies // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:05

I sincerely hope that signed picture of Emre up the top is genuine. We don’t want him missing match practice to go to court.
11 andyc290 // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:16

I also think it would be a good idea to play Duff in the hole, preferably a nice deep one far enough away from St James Park so that he cant play on Saturday.

Got to get Enrique in at left back, we need 4 recognised defenders on the pitch. Butt needs to act as defence for whole defence not just centre backs.

Barton is a joke, shouldnt play for us again, not just cos of what he did but bcos of his lack of commitment on the pitch.

Maybe play Owen and Martins up front together would dissuade our defence and midfield from lumping high balls forward and encourage them to keep it on the deck. Although given the apparent lack of intelligence throughout i dont think it would stop them.

Whatever the team Saturday is a must win, i hope the players realise this and play accordingly.
12 cloudstrife // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:18

what’s with Enrique? it really ticks me off not knowing about him!! KK let us know. is it you dont like him? whatever it is, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!!
13 Jon // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:30

YES WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW!!!!!!
14 Magpied_Piper // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:32

Our best side — qualifying “best” as assessment and survival:

Harper
Beye / Taylor / Faye / Enrique
Milner / Geremi / Emre / Zogs
Vid / Owen
15 Elliott // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:38

Maybe he’s not up to it mentally. He doesn’t speak English. He’s unsettled. Keegan hates him. Who knows.
16 mikeygd // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:41

agree with baker about playing 3 up front coz our midfield is so f**kin shite.

Harper
Geremi Beye Faye Enrique
Milner Emre Nzogbia
Owen Martins
Viduka
17 mikeygd // Feb 27, 2008 at 18:43

Harper

Geremi Faye Beye Enrique

Milner Emre Nzogbia

Owen Martins
Viduka
18 Punk Skunk // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:17

Yea, please get Enrique on the pitch!..
19 Swede1891 // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:25

mikeygd..thats a genious starting line-up..wish kk would go with that one..but unfortunatley its more likely that hell freezes over..than that he will leave his pals Butt, Barton and Smith out..:( i just hope that emre&martins will be in the starting 11…
20 mikeygd // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:28

yeah were probably going to see

Beye, Faye Taylor nzogbia

Milner Butt Barton Duff
21 mikeygd // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:28

owen smith
22 Nick C // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:30

I reckon we signed a fat paella chef instead of a left back
23 mikeygd // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:33

ne1 see milner say he most likes to play with carr as they have a good understanding.
I think ive come to the conclusion that they are not bad players they just have very low iq’s. Keegan needs to take them back to school and we will start winning games no problem
24 Punk Skunk // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:33

mikegd, y’could be/probably right!..Downer!..
…Not Zog at LB, what’s the point?..
Butt & Barton in mid…No creativity!..
…Smith…Why?..(anywhere)
25 Punk Skunk // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:35

Mate, they all need a re-boot or possibly switching off, then back on again!..
26 mikeygd // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:48

lol at punk. They needs memory upgrades and a new processor as well
27 Gloryhunter // Feb 27, 2008 at 19:58

Good News On Newcastle Injury Front

What a headline. I thought the first sentence would be -

‘Smith, Butt and Barton on treatment table for six months’
28 Punk Skunk // Feb 27, 2008 at 20:05

Lol!.. to post 23 & 24
29 Gloryhunter // Feb 27, 2008 at 20:11

Forster

Edgar Faye Beye Enrique

Milner Emre Nzogbia

LuaLua Martins

Carroll
30 daniel... // Feb 27, 2008 at 20:35

my team…

harper
car cacapa taylor nzogbia
barton butt smith duff
matrins carroll

forster faye beye owen emre…

NATTTT!!

harper
beye faye taylor enreque
millner emre duff
nzogbia
owen viduka

fosrter carroll lualua edgar cacapa
31 Ian // Feb 27, 2008 at 20:44

So pleased Martins is back.
32 steve chrome // Feb 27, 2008 at 20:51

how about….

harper

beye taylor enrique

faye

milner zog

emre

martins duff

viduka

its a 3-1-2-1-2-1 of sorts
33 steve chrome // Feb 27, 2008 at 20:54

damn, all my nice formating has gone!
34 daniel... // Feb 27, 2008 at 21:13

sorry like people martins still dosent deserve a shirt for me like
35 Punk Skunk // Feb 27, 2008 at 21:15

Still think i’d play Owen tho’, but he needs service!..
36 Gallacher_the_Horse // Feb 27, 2008 at 21:17

Gloryhunter No.29, that would be a side! Maybe when we’re safe and a couple of games to go.
37 Ausgeordie // Feb 27, 2008 at 22:45

I reckon Roz could get a game in his perferred position right now.

…………..Harper
Geremi….Beye…Edgar…..Enrique
……………Faye………………..
Milner…….Emre………..Zogbia
………Owen…….Viduka

Bench; forster, Duff, Martins, Viduka, Butt

Tactics: If no goals by half time take Owen and Viduka off and put Martins and Carroll on. If Emre can only do a half push Zogbia in to the middle and put Duff on. Butt and Forster should not be needed.
38 Hadji // Feb 27, 2008 at 23:05

This is our best formation and starting 11
………………….Harper……………………
Geremi……….Beye…….Faye………….Enrique..
………………….Barton…………………………………
….Duff………………………………………N’Zogbia
……………………Emre………………………………..
…………Martins………………..Owen…………
4-3-1-2
39 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 28, 2008 at 2:23

good stuff get martins dukes and owen in the team as well as emre would be good i think
40 obamagic // Feb 28, 2008 at 7:07

COME ON OBA!!!!! work yr magic!!!
………….Harper………….
Geremi….Beye…..Taylor……Enrique
…………………Faye……………………….
…….Milner…………………………N’zogbia
………………………Emre………………..
…………Martins……………..Owen
41 Rich // Feb 28, 2008 at 9:24

Obamagic thats the team i would play!! Well balanced, pleny of pace and should be able to create.
42 Swepalle // Feb 28, 2008 at 10:06

This team would take 3p on saturday

Geremi Beye Taylor The bull
Faye
Milner Emre
Oba Nzog
Owen
43 Mr T // Feb 28, 2008 at 16:21

Geremi? has he ever looked good in a Newcastle shirt this season? No match I’ve ever seen.