Sam talked to the official Newcastle United Web Site this morning, about the possibility of having Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye and Stephen Carr back from injury for our next game against Derby County next Sunday, at St. James’ Park, KO 2pm.
Steven Taylor – hamstring played up last Thursday morning
Sam said this afternoon:
“Certainly, we’d hope to have Steven Taylor, and possibly Abdoulaye Faye and Stephen Carr, back,” “We’ll try to get them into training as quickly as we can, because the games are coming thick and fast.”
“We’ve got four games in a 10-day period that we’ve got to cope with.–That’ll be a big push for those games, and with everybody fit, it’ll help us get more points on the board.”
“We need to get those players back into the selection process, and hopefully keep this run going.”
Steven Taylor was ruled out of the Fulham game at the eleventh hour with Claudio Cacapa coming in after six weeks out with injury. Turns out it was Steven Taylor’s hamstring that started to be troublesome last Thursday morning, and eventually he was withdrawn at the last minute from the Fulham game. But Taylor’s stand-in Claudio Cacapa had a very strong game back in the Newcastle defense, and Sam was obviously delighted with that, as he continued:
“Claudio had only played 45 minutes against Hartlepool in our friendly on Thursday,” “We found out about Steven Taylor’s hamstring that day, and that’s why he only played 45 minutes.â€
“We only did that as a precaution, because we thought Steven would be alright.†“He got through 90 minutes with his experience and quality of defending, and I’m glad to say he’s made it look pretty easy.â€
“I hope he continues on from here. He’s a been a big miss.”
Whether Claudio keeps his place or not it’s really great that we can rely on someone who has been out for 6 weeks and play the type of game Claudio played for the team on Saturday. That’s even more true when the last time he was seen in a Newcastle shirt was trudging down the tunnel at St. James’ Park after Big Sam unceremoniously took the Brazilian off the field, after we had conceded 3 goals in 11 minutes against Portsmouth.
We were pleased with Cacapa’s performance and now Sam will have some selection problems, at least in defense, for the game against Derby County next Sunday, and that’s also very good. That’s a game we just have to win and hopefully with a good score-line, so we can improve our goal difference.
Comments welcome.
6 comments so far
ToonUSA
Dec 17, 2007 at 6:06 PM
Comment #1Hey Ed can you start a player Rating analysis after games???
Tripp
Dec 17, 2007 at 7:26 PM
Comment #2I’m glad to see Cacapa back in the line-up and playing well. Couldn’t come a better time either. With the ACN coming up soon we ought to have the African players playing loads, just to keep other people rested and not risk their injury. The last thing we need is our African lads to leave in JAN leaving behind a smoldering pile of broken players. I’m thinking that we’ll see Jose Enrique in JAN with Commander Zog moving up into the midfield.
AlexW
Dec 17, 2007 at 8:11 PM
Comment #3any news on michael owens latest injury?
Leo
Dec 17, 2007 at 11:43 PM
Comment #4another injury???
when cacapa makes a game seem easy then its because he has had a good game, real pro’s do that.
azza jones
Dec 18, 2007 at 4:57 AM
Comment #5But he wasnt really tested by healy & kuqi was he now, against quick opponent like Utaka, Benjani he got ripped. I like his calm style but a little slow in the premier league.
He needs to play with taylor or faye who have a little pace to keep tabs on the quicker players.
I think Faye is our number one with Taylor, Roz & Cacapa being back ups but Im liking our options in that position. We need Enrique to be given a run or by bridge or another left back…
How is the lad meant get experience pulling splinters out of his ass…..I hope he gets a run against Derby this week
Whumpie
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:38 AM
Comment #6We have to get Enrique on the field PDQ. Then we can get some real wing-play going, and finally see some service to the front. It’s coming.
Mind you, none of us knows what the problem with Enrique has been – perhaps he’s just not doing the job in training at all and BSA daren’t risk him. But it’s clear that we do need a top-end left-back to complete the starting 11 at the mo.