Jermainne Lens? Nah!Some injury news about Joey and Stephen Ireland. A complete lack of injury news about Jonas. Oh, and more transfer speculation.
There isn’t a huge amount of news around this morning and I can’t do my thinking posts until I’ve had least 2 meals, so I thought I’d sum up bits of this and that
There’s good and bad news on the injury front.
Joey and Stephen Ireland look good for Stoke but Jose seems to be a doubt. Pardew said:
“Ireland trained Thursday, and looked like he was going to be OK, and then got the thigh injury which kept him out of training on Friday.
“Joey actually trained Friday thinking that he’d be OK, but again didn’t feel quite right.
“I don’t think there’ll be a problem for Joey and Stephen against Stoke.
“We’ll wait and see with Jose. He’s a key player for us, and that injury affected us more than any other one.”
I know Joey’s had issues in the past and we’ve sometimes given him some grief, but two names I like to see on the team sheet are Barton and Tiote. It kind of gives me that extra boost of confidence as we go into a game. (more…)
Pardew on Arsenal ecstasy and "mood swings".In shock news, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, has been talking once again about life at the club.
In an interview with local newspaper, “The Chronic”, he outlined how he thought it took “a certain type of player to join Newcastle United”. He also spoke on how the team must take advantage of what he described as a “mood swing” in the second half of the 4-4 draw against Arsenal, and how it established a momentum that was continued in the following games against Blackburn and Bimingham. He went on to say that the Magpies can’t lose that momentum as the season is now “in the balance”
Firstly, speaking on the qualities required to play at St James’s Park he said:
“You do have to be a certain type of player to join Newcastle United.(more…)
Wearing black & white soonStephen Ireland anticipates being able to contribute to Newcastle United’s midfield very soon, whilst Hatem Ben Arfa’s comeback is delayed due to compassionate leave.
Stephen Ireland has been injured since he got here 3 weeks ago but it looks as if he’s nearing fitness now.
Apparently his recovery is going well and Ireland talked about it thusly:
“We thought it would be a couple of weeks.
“But I went running outside today at a decent level and decent pace, and I reckon it could be by the end of next week hopefully.
“I’ve just got to do a few more sessions and then see how far I can push it. If it goes well then I could be back soon.
“I haven’t got any specific game in mind. I’ve just got to take a day at a time really, because one day it could feel amazing and then the next day really bad. It’s quite strange, but I have to see how I feel on a day to day basis.
“I just need to get back on the field now. I’m frustrated with the injury I’ve got at the moment.(more…)
On loanNewcastle United have secured Aston Villa’s Stephen Ireland on loan until the end of the season, possibly with some sort of option to make it permanent if things work out.
Having spent yesterday largely concentrating on the Andy Carroll debacle, I thought I’d bring you up to date this morning with all the exciting players Newcastle have bought with their newly-banked £35m.
However, try as I might, I couldn’t find any.
The club have however completed a deal for Stephen Ireland, who joins on loan until the end of the season. The move has only been described as ‘temporary’ and nothing has been said about any arrangements to take the player on a permanent basis if the loan period is a success, although I would be surprised if no such possibility exists.
Alan Pardew had this to say about the loan:
“Stephen has shown over the past few seasons that he’s a real top player so we’re really pleased to have got him until the end of the season.(more…)
