Injury curse strikes Magpies again
Posted on May 5th, 2011 | 23 Comments |
Word has it that Mike Williamson, the centre back who has played most games for Newcastle this season, managed to break his arm in training.
As unfortunate as it may be for Mike Williamson, the world of football is never about one player and operates with a one door closing, another opening. This now gives Steven Taylor a chance over three games, as well as James Perch to show why they should be regulars in the Newcastle XI. It could also give some of the youngsters a chance to earn their stripes and potentially make a cameo or two once we are mathematically safe.
Speaking to BBC Newcastle, Alan Pardew said today:
“He’s done it in the gym this morning, there’s a slight weakness in that arm, which he has hurt before, so unfortunately, that has been the issue. He’ll be touch and go for the start of pre-season, so he’s definitely out.
“It’s a freak injury and unfortunate for the big fella and he is going to miss now the end part of the season.
“Obviously, he is disappointed. He wanted to finish the season with us.”
Pardew, surprisingly, had some positive words to say about Perch as he spoke to BBC Newcastle and also touched upon Steven Taylor’s situation:
“He [Perch] signed a new contract here, we’ve worked hard on his training programme and changed a couple of things which I think will help him.
“Now he’s got an opportunity and needs to take it. He was unfortunate because he was playing well at centre-half, but when he came back after injury Williamson and Colo were our strongest area of the team.
“Steven had opportunities in different positions, at right-back for example, but now that he has an opportunity in his best position to show that he should be a starter for next year.”
Perch, who holds the dubious record of picking up 5 yellow cards in the opening 5 games of a season, has hardly been an inspiration at Newcastle and I’m sure we’re unanimous in saying that we’d rather not see him in the starting XI, although when he made a late appearance at Villa Park, he looked a different player. As is with Ryan Taylor, he is simply not a defender and simply does not look comfortable, making silly mistakes and giving away free kicks in dangerous areas, yet in the centre of the pitch, he has shown that he actually has an eye for a pass!
Of course, the good news doesn’t end there as Hatem Ben Arfa has also been ruled out of making a late season cameo as he has reportedly traveled back to France with an undisclosed injury. Hardly has me shaking with excitement, however I do believe this could be a blessing in disguise.
He will now have an extended break in which he can focus fully on getting himself back to full fitness, ready to start the new season in style, and hopefully we’ll see more of those wonder goals.
Speaking of a possibility of Hatem coming back for one of the last 3 games, an unusually coy Alan Pardew said:
“We think that’s probably not going to happen now. He’s had a little setback.
“That’s what happens when you come back from that sort of injury, so I think that’s unlikely.”
The great Newcastle club have been plagued with injuries and it certainly raises some questions as to the ability of some of the staff employed by the club. Whatever causes these problems needs to be ironed out, because with a squad as thin as ours, we simply can not risk any more injuries.
Get well soon, to both Hatem and Mike.
NUFCBlog Author: Thump
Some say his bones are black and white but that is yet to be medically proven. Currently writes for a few different publications and likes to assert his imaginary authority on nobody in particular.
Beware: eats children.
Thump has written 36 articles on this blog.
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