The question in the press yesterday was whether Michael Owen will at some time need a hernia operation.
If that’s the case the minimum time needed to recover from the now relatively short procedure is 3 weeks but there again Michael has never been a quick healer and will probably take longer.
What is not clear is whether Michael actually needs one or whether it’s all hype in the papers.
Michael Owen – suffered a slight groin strain
This is the statement Big Sam gave out yesterday:
“He does not need a hernia operation. I fully expect him to be fit to face West Ham on Sunday.”
Owen was sent for a scan after Monday night’s game as a precaution to see if he needed surgery to cure a niggling groin problem, after being substituted against Derby County on Monday. That seemed to be straight forward but then there were a number of reports yesterday suggesting Michael had been nursing a hernia for a few weeks and would need an operation at some time. One of these was in the local Evening Chronicle.
If that’s the case Owen is likely to head for Munich and top German surgeon Dr Ulrike Muschaweck, who has perfected the procedure that allows players to return within a couple of weeks from a hernia operation. During the actual procedure only a light anaesthetic is used and Dr Muschaweck has developed a new ‘Minimal Repair’, meaning that her patients are usually well enough to leave the clinic the same day. Obviously an overnight stay is usually required for those who fly into Germany for the procedure.
England have two European qualifying games with Estonia and Russia on October 13 and 17 respectively, and Owen is now a key player again for England. But from Newcastle’s point of view they would like to restrict the number of games Michael misses for the club and therefore having it over an international break would make sense for the club, who pay Michael’s wages.
But the official injury report on Michael indicates he has a slight groin strain and is out till 23rd September but Sam does expect him to line up for our important game against West Ham on Sunday. Hope he makes it since Michael has a history of having these niggles take him out of games, but we’ll stick with what Big Sam is saying and assume all this about a hernia operation is just hype.
We need Michael firing on all cylinders – all this season.
Comments welcome.
13 comments so far
Toon Chicken
Sep 20, 2007 at 9:28 AM
Comment #1Not sure why Sam would feel the need to lie about whether or not Owen needed a hernia op?
Graeme
Sep 20, 2007 at 9:31 AM
Comment #2Given the performance on Monday night, I dont think it would make the slightest difference if he played or not. He got zero service and touched the ball 14 times in the hour he was on the pitch. That sort of service wont win you games in the Championship, let alone the Premiership.
I know Ed says its just a “Blip” but thats now 3 blips in 5 games (Villa, Smoggies and Derby) and no sign that the team is improving or going in the right direction. How much longer can Martins be kept on the bench; how much longer before the Zog is allowed to play in midfield, where he belongs???
West Ham, at SJP, is going to be one hell of a test. One they cant afford to lose if credibility of a European place is to be maintained!!!!
Marosh
Sep 20, 2007 at 9:42 AM
Comment #3I think that better for us will be Oba on the field instead of Micheal. In my opinion Oba is better player right now and I’m not sure why BSA gives Michael starting position. Keep him on the bench and Oba on the field.
Toon Chicken
Sep 20, 2007 at 9:58 AM
Comment #4I don’t think the Villa and Boro games can be put into the same bracket as the Derby performance.
Villa are a good team they played very well against us, but to our credit we defended resolutely – even though they piled everything down our weak right-hand side – but we didn’t crack. I was as disappointed as anyone not to get a home win under our belts, but if truth be told, that is exactly the sort of game we would have lost in years gone by. So I’d like to think of it as a point won, rather than 2 lost.
Boro again wasn’t a great performance – but it wasn’t a shocking one. We created chances and we scored 2 goals – one of which was a wonder goal, but then to a degree so was Arca’s equaliser. Yes it was annoying that we couldn’t hold on to our advantage after taking the lead twice – but it was a derby game (in Boro and Southgate’s eyes at least) and I think we do deserve some credit for scoring a couple of excellent goals and securing another point.
The Derby game was different – we didn’t create any chances of note. We had one shot on goal, and that was a freekick. I still don’t think Derby did enough to win (with that’s sour grapes, bias or what, I don’t know). Someone said the other day that just because Alan Smith battles and works hard it doesn’t make him a good footballer. I would use the same argument in respect of Derby – just because they worked hard doesn’t mean they deserve to win. Putting that aside though, I would say the blame rests squarely at the inept feet (and head) of Shola Ameobi. I didn’t think any of the team played particularly well – but how many times do you see Man U or Chelsea or Liverpool play crap but win 1-0 or draw 1-1 because of a moment of inspiration from one of their strikers? Plenty ids the answer. That was never going to happen with Shola on the pitch – he must have touched the ball 3 times more than Owen but I can’t remember him once holding the ball up, or laying a pass off without first being tackled, falling over or being caught offside. The bloke is a joke. To call him a striker is a joke. It may seem unfair to blame one man for a poor team performance, but at the end of the day that is why strikers get paid more than any other position – so that Teams win or draw games EVEN when they are playing badly.
If we are to get anything out of the West Ham game then we must do it without Shola Ameobi. I’m sorry but he has to go.
ToonPipes
Sep 20, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Comment #5Agree with ToonChicken .. Ameobi should not play again … we have enough alternatives and options now – Smith / Owen / Viduka / Martins they are the forwards .. end of.
Lamesley Mag
Sep 20, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Comment #6If surgery is required, then it must be performed well in advance of Martins playing in the African Cup with Nigeria in January.
As Greame rightly states, if you don’t provide service to the front men, not worth having them around. Hopefully, Viduka will play as the targetman against WHU and provide beter support as Shola let himself and the team down on Monday…..
Craig Allen
Sep 20, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Comment #7If this is true, then I can’t believe the lengths the chronicle would go through to sell a copy. Does any editor there ever check this idiot’s (AO) stories before publishing? My God, what an idiot. What’s next, speculation that Mourinho will be taking over the reigns here after the Derby defeat? I can see the headline already.
Dingo
Sep 20, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Comment #8yeah thats right Craig…. Jose to SJP, Big Sam to take over the England helm and Alan Shearer to replace The Dog Fiddler at Sunderland… (a source close to Anal Oliver told me today)
sirjasontoon
Sep 20, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Comment #9I just think if owen is out for a few weeks it is no great shakes..as mentioned we have martins and viduka as well as smith so if he needs an op get it out of the way now as the next few games are not with top opposition apart from arsenal cup tie.
What must not happen is ameobi starting against west ham that will spell disaster that man must be sold or let go on a free transfer in january,he is weak, got no eye for goal and deserves the chop pronto.
With regards the west ham game I smell a defeat on the horizon and think the players will be hounded by the fans if they start badly and ultimatly buckle under the pressure of expectation..think big sam is now feeling the heat..international duty haha pull the other one !!
A win will change the whole picture,just hope the lads can buckle down to some hard honest graft and take all three points..and I will be the a happy lad.
Come on the TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON !!
jeff
Sep 20, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Comment #10To be honest I cant see anything other than a West Ham victory,Im a toon fan but Im still waiting to see them play well this season…Only the defence has changed in my eyes they are a more solid than years gone by but everything else is crap……Ameobi has to go….Owen is a world class striker but cant and wont do nowt without service thats no fault of his own.Martins is unpredicable,he can be class or he can be very frustrating..Quality when he wants to know..Viduka is a must for sunday.Id play smith just behind front two..Given is our number one put him back in now..
We must start at a fast pace going straight at them,and play with passion & commitment thats all we ask.
Toon Chicken
Sep 20, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Comment #11Did you not think we played well against Wigan jeff?
I thought we ripped them apart – we should have score more than 1 but we did hit the woodwork and have a couple of decent goals chalked off.
jeff
Sep 20, 2007 at 12:34 PM
Comment #12Toon Chicken,…..The one game Ive missed and you’re saying they were good,blimey whats the chances ha ha….
ChrisL
Sep 20, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Comment #13Good round up Toon Chicken