International break welcome as Toon injuries mount

Posted on November 7th, 2011 | 13 Comments |

Tiote and Cabaye - essential for the next 3 games?
Essential for the next 3 games?
The international break has come at an opportune time for Newcastle United as injuries to the squad begin to mount up.

I think we all knew that a potential Achilles Heel for us has been the onset of injuries as the season progresses.

It is of course a problem for any of the teams that can’t afford to buy and maintain a second side that’s made up of the sort of quality teams like Manchester City have, but it’s probably also made more significant for us because we’ve carved out our good start to the season with – more of less – the same 11 players.

Cheick Tiote has a knee injury, Leon Best has a toe and groin injury and Yohan Cabaye – who was substituted fairly early on Saturday – has a groin problem. Apparently none of those three are likely to play for their countries during this international spell, although Best and Cabaye will join their squads to be assessed by the Irish and French locums respectively. Sylvain Marveaux joins the list of wounded too with a groin injury sustained during his sting against Everton.

Pardew assessed the Cabaye and Marveaux injuries thusly:

Cabaye and Marveaux have groin injuries that will be difficult to heal in two weeks. We will have to wait and see, it is not like they are huge tears and they are definitely out. I am assuming it will be a tight call for them.

On top of that, Obertan has a toe injury and Ameobi has a hamstring injury, and both players are expected to be out for a further 3-5 weeks.

Pardew was pleased with the way the subs played on Saturday but is obviously keen to have his strongest team back for the game against Manchester City:

I was really pleased with the three subs. Dan had a tough opening because Rodwell was really on it. As the match wore on he got better and better.

Sammy was terrific and so was Hatem. In the background the staff are doing a great job keeping those guys all up and ready.

We can’t suffer too many more injuries when you are coming up against the best you need your best players.

We will be working hard to get our best team out at Man City.

If by his ‘best team’, Pardew means the team he’s put out for most games this season, that means he’ll be sweating on Tiote, Cabaye and Obertan the most and I think the first two of those – being our regular midfield engine room – are the most important of all.

So let’s hope that the international break gives them the time they need to make a full recovery. I don’t think anyone expects us to take any points at Eastlands but both Manchester United and Chelsea are fallible this season and I don’t think a sneaky draw is beyond us for either of those games. We’d need to be on top form but I’d be delighted with 2 points from the next 3 games.

I generally find it tedious waiting 2 weeks for a game but it sounds like we need it this time.

NUFCBlog Author: Hugh de Payen I'm a baby-boomer of the punk rock persuasion, currently exiled in Somerset for crimes committed in a previous life where locals keep trying to poison me with something called 'scrumpy'. Hates sprouts, coat-hangers, Cilla Black, ornaments, Steven Seagull movies and 50 Cent (he's not worth 10). Hugh de Payen has written 634 articles on this blog.

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13 Responses

  1. Good summary Hugh – our luck is holding cos we were bound to get injuries by now and this bloody international break (3rd so far?) at least gives us a breather for rest & recovery.
    If some still miss the manure & citeh games fair enough – lets aim for a fully fit squad for the home game with chelski on 3rd December – I fancy our chances against them cos we are on song & their defence is all to pot this season.

    HWTL

  2. “Sylvain Marveaux joins the list of wounded too with a groin injury sustained during his sting against Everton.”

    That’s very worrying as Marveaux’s groin is his potential achilles heel if that makes sense, which it probably doesn’t. This is especially so as he’s played so little so far. I hope we don’t hear anything about “calcification issues” in his adductor muscles later on.

  3. workyticket says:

    “That’s very worrying as Marveaux’s groin is his potential achilles heel”

    Does that mean his balls are in either ear ? :lol:

  4. Looking on the bright side, the defence is still intact and raring to go (unless Krul drops a bottle of salad cream on his foot between now and Citeh).

    So arguably you could put a band of wandering minstrels up front and we’d still be able to shut up shop at the “Etihad” (FFS at least its not as bad as The ChuckleBrothers@SJP.com )

  5. Andy,

    aye, well done Sammy!
    Not an england fan personally but it’s good for the lad to get some recognition for the effort he’s put in.

  6. CLiNT FLiCK says:
    November 7, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    “one in the pot mate!”

    Ah! I was just cracking one out there myself Clint. I’ll attend to it in good time.

  7. As i didn’t get to see the game i couldn’t do a ratings post, but thought we should have something new up, as it were Mrs.
    :)