International break welcome as Toon injuries mount
Posted on November 7th, 2011 | 13 Comments |
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.
Very ‘opportune’, phew!
;)