What’s Going On With Emre’s Slight Calf Muscle Strain?

Friday March 21st, 2008 by Ed Harrison· 20 Comments

We were told a few weeks ago that Emre had almost recovered from his slight calf muscle strain, and today we are told by Kevin Keegan that the Turkish International will not be back until the Sunderland game on 20th April.

What is going on here?

Emre - out 11 weeks with a slight calf muscle strain?

The Turkish midfielder is still not over his calf problem, and the England Under-21 winger still has a protective boot on his foot. But it’s our potential match-winner Emre that we are worried about.

We finally got Viduka back last Monday after he was out several weeks with another slight problem. Emre’s last game was against Middlesbrough on 3rd February, when he was replaced after 66 minutes by James Milner, strangely enough. But it was a tactical switch, and we think Emre picked up his injury in training the following week.

But if he’s out another 2-3 weeks that will be around 11 weeks he’s been out with a slight calf muscle strain. On PhysioRoom.com his comeback date, to return to full training is set at April 5th. That gives him 2 weeks to be ready for the Sunderland game.

When we’ve needed Emre’s creative play the most, he’s been out with an injury. When he first suffered the injury we were told it was a slight muscle strain. Those are the facts - it’s now 7 weeks later so what’s going on?

This is what Kevin said on Friday, 7th March before the side left for Liverpool:

“Viduka is still another week away, but if he has no more set-backs then he should be back for our game at Birmingham City a week on Monday night.”

“Emre is two weeks away, with Carr not expected back for three weeks because of his hamstring injury.”

A couple of things with that - Emre’s injury is a calf muscle strain and not a hamstring - and Kevin said Emre would be returning by March 21st - now it’s going to be April 20th? Remember also that when Kevin made that statement on 7th March, Emre had already been out 5 weeks.

Kevin also said today that Carr was still 2-3 weeks away in recovering from his hamstring injury. So in two weeks his prognosis has not improved at all?

We think the medical staff at the club need to issue a more detailed explanation on what’s happening with Emre - because we just don’t understand it, given what we’ve been told by the club.

It’s a serious charge to say somebody’s hiding out in the dressing room during these tough times, especially when it’s our most creative player. We know that, but it certainly looks that way - by just looking at the facts.

What do you think?

Comments welcome.

Tags: Newcastle News · Emre · Injuries

20 responses so far ↓

1 tdt // Mar 21, 2008 at 12:57

hmmm…
2 Davies // Mar 21, 2008 at 13:09

Agreed, it is odd that such a trivial injury (in the grand scheme of things) should take so long to put right.

Shame really, Michael Owen seems to be waking up a bit and he’s been fed with some good opportunities from Emre in the recent past. Two of his last three goals have come balls palyed in by him.

Lets hope he is just taking the time to heal properly, rather than just dodging matches. It would be a shame to have to sell him in the summer…..
3 geordie_jordan // Mar 21, 2008 at 13:16

HAHAHA. just read on f365 that west ham want to buy carr in the summer. they’re setting up a right halfway house of our unwanteds… except for nobby that is.
4 greek toon // Mar 21, 2008 at 13:18

Turkish pussy
5 subz // Mar 21, 2008 at 13:40

Yeah this is starting to P me off. I like Emre but it seems he is just not up for it. 4 weeks is too long for a Slight calf strain. There is sumat else going on here.

3-1 to the Toon tomorrow!!!

PS. Jordan, We should gift wrap him and tie a ribbon round the oirish pri..ck

Howay…
6 Leo // Mar 21, 2008 at 13:41

language greek toon…

emre is injury prone thats all…
7 The Gallowgate Channel // Mar 21, 2008 at 13:59

Its easy to aggravate an injury like that and put recovery back. I think Emre should be given the benefit if any doubt here - the last “malingerer” we had, Babayaro, was quickly shown the door by Sir Kev……
8 scott9 // Mar 21, 2008 at 14:11

hes such a fantastic players but i think if i was kk i would be thinking about selling him in the summer and bringing in arshevin or someone to replace him as he is injured 70% of the time and he is to inconsistent
9 Newcastle United. // Mar 21, 2008 at 14:34

We need him.
10 Premiership Vids // Mar 21, 2008 at 14:38

We definitely need his creativity in the midfield, there seems to be none at the moment. Players are getting the ball and not wanting to go forward and attack, seems like they are always holding it up, which allows the opposition to re-group defensively. Some creativity in the midfield has to be a priority on Kev’s shopping list this summer, its hard to open up defenses with players that can pass a ball.
11 canmag // Mar 21, 2008 at 15:42

said it a while ago ,never there when we need him happens quiet regular with him.
12 Spyro // Mar 21, 2008 at 16:31

who cares, get rid, he is a decent midfielder but far from the quality of cesc etc, therefore his talent does not compensate for his injuries
13 Whitt // Mar 21, 2008 at 16:34

Viduka is our most creative.
14 Hadji // Mar 21, 2008 at 16:50

Hey skata watch your mouth
15 toon4lyf // Mar 21, 2008 at 20:09

hes a fantastic player but i dont no whats goin with his calf problem…we shoudent sell him hes our best player and hes obviusly more creative than viduka whitt! we need him when he has played this season we got good results he singke handedly won our match v everton….we shud buy arca,lafita crouch and wayne bridge!!!aw and we havta get rid ov da prik butt
16 Gary Holliday // Mar 21, 2008 at 20:22

Fair weather player. Need sleeves rolled up in our predicament and I for one would’nt be too confident with Emre alongside me in the trenches!
17 AdamCF // Mar 21, 2008 at 21:38

It seems surprising that under BSA the muscle tear injuries were reduced. We get rid of BSA (rightly so) but also the medical people as well and muscle injuries increase again, not good. Either 1 of 2 things are happening. 1, we don’t have the medical staff capable of managing injuries like this or 2, we don’t have the players who are prepared to put their hands up and say that they’re not right to play and help the meds with diagnosing their injuries. Another example is Shay, I don’t understand why when his groin went that the following day he wasn’t having the op to get it right. This whole wait and see approach just doesn’t work.
18 Leo // Mar 21, 2008 at 21:40

AdamCF emre hardly played under Sam Alardyce, also Given’s injury was never dealt with properly, and now it is seemingly going to be with an operation.

i suspect there will be more than one operation for given though unfortunatly
19 hanz_ // Mar 22, 2008 at 8:39

If he isn’t 100% fit & KK think he is good to be in his team next season just leave him out to get him back to his best. If this mistery is due to KK wants him up for summer sale, so be it. Winning today’s game & KK’d have better ideas/options of whom to play in the midfield for remainder of the games & for summer purchase. Maybe for now KK’d occasionally use Lua Lua to provide his creativity in the team as KK is rebuilding the foundation & just want to get better with results for better future.
20 Bert Shaft // Mar 22, 2008 at 9:16

Emre is an injury prone waster who is obviously only at the club for his inflated wages.
He is a fine player on his day but that day is very rare.
Get rid in the summer!