The bad news today is that Emre has suffered an injury in training and will be out for about two weeks.
Emre – out for 2 weeks with calf problem
The Newcastle United manager is already missing missing Obafemi Martins, who returned from Ghana with a sprained ankle and missed the game 2 weeks ago at Villa Part and is is still not fit.
The other player injured is Stephen Carr who has yet another hamstring injury but Keegan is hopeful he will also be back for next week’s home game with Blackburn Rovers. However, we don’t think Carr’s injury is that bad for the team. It means in all likelihood that Jose Enrique could start at left back unless Kevin decides to play N’Zogbia there. It may also open up the way for David Edgar to come in the 16 for today’s game.
Here’s a side that we think can do well today:
Given
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
Milner Barton Geremi Duff (N’Zogbia)
Owen Viduka
Subs: Harper Cacapa Smith Butt N’Zogbia (Duff)
This is a bad blow for the team because Kevin has already stated a few times that Emre is one of the few players at Newcastle who is creative enough to open up opposing defenses. We were looking forward to him getting a start today.
Here’s our current injury situation:
Player Injury Return Date Emre Calf Muscle Strain 7th Mar 08 S Carr Hamstring Injury 14th Mar 08 O Martins Sprained Ankle no return date T Krul Dislocated Shoulder no return date P Ramage ACL Knee Injury 5th Apr 08
Finally, something we have up on our main site today – Newcastle fans are urged to take their seats at least 10 minutes before the kick-off today.
Newcastle United Football Club are showing a bit of class by making a special presentation to former manager Sir Bobby Robson to mark his 75th birthday.
Bobby and lovely wife Elsie
Great for the club and Bobby is one of our real heroes in the game of football. We love the guy!
Happy Birthday Bobby!
Comments on our injury situation and our Uncle Bobby are welcome.
NUFC News 24/7 
30 comments so far
Ausgeordie
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Comment #1Shite! He was part of everyones team for this week mine included. Gotta ask wht is your source on this? No other news up regarding it.
ToonKing
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Comment #2oh damn…..just what we needed….. 🙁
Howie
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Comment #3nufc.com say it
tommyy
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Comment #4Il bet Butt and Smith are playing today. Emre was our key player today in my eyes, without him we just won’t have enough skill to break Man u down.
tommyy
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Comment #5When is the team announced?
Edd Case
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Comment #6So, Geremi and Barton in the middle?
tommyy
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Comment #7If its Butt and geremi in the middle we are gonna get smashed, but no manager could be that stupid?
canmag
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Comment #8hurt again, you have got to be kidding seem’s when you really need him down he goes.
hanzemre
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Comment #9OPS not Butt again…like to start with N’Zogbia & Geremi/Barton in the middle park…
Obafan
Feb 23, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Comment #10Again bad luck for the little Turk 🙁 . My team for today would be:
Given
Beye – Faye – Cacapa – Enrique
Milner – Geremi – Barton – Duff
Owen – Viduka
SUBS: Harper – Taylor – N’Zogbia – Butt – Smith
I’m afraid this will be the team selected by our best friend KK (hope I’m wrong tho’)
Given
Beye – Taylor – Faye – N’Zogbia
Milner – Butt – Barton – Duff
Owen – Smith
SUBS: Harper – Cacapa – Geremi – Viduka – Enrique
Dunc
Feb 23, 2008 at 1:41 PM
Comment #11I LOVE BOBBY!!!!!
When he speaks, I sit up and listen.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBY 🙂
Gutted about Emre, but would he have been in the side anyway??
CRAIGG
Feb 23, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Comment #12The team should be:
Given
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
Milner Barton N’Zogbia Duff
Owen Viduka
Subs: Harper, Edgar, Butt, Lua Lua, Carroll
Obafan = “our best friend KK”
I take it that is meant to be sarcastic
how can any supposed newcastle fan keep slagging off Kevin Keegan and why the hell would you play the extemely slow Cacapa against a team potentially containing the pace of Rooney, Tevez, Nani, Ronaldo and the throughballs utilising their pace by players with the passing abilities of Scholes, Anderson, Carrick Giggs etc.
Pan
Feb 23, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Comment #13I think Harper should be given a proper chance!
Harper
Beye – Faye – Cacapa – Enrique
Milner – Geremi – N’Zogbia – Duff
Owen – Carroll
SUBS: Given – Taylor -Barton – Lua Lua – Viduka
nate dawg
Feb 23, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Comment #14god dame emre is the one player isaw winning it for us today . unles the duke wakes up . anyone one notice booys wife looks like judy from richard and judy? or just me
nate dawg
Feb 23, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Comment #15sorrys bobbys
tommyy
Feb 23, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #16nate dawg – i actually thought it was her lol 😛
Richard
Feb 23, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #17Craigg Awesome team there…. though I think i’d play Harps as i reckon Given will strain himself and let one in at the same time
Howay Lads!!! 😀
CRAIGG
Feb 23, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Comment #18Richard, cheers i think we should go for ’em like we did in that 5-o and also the 4-3 under Bobby.
Attack is the best form of defence for us as i dont think we can stop them scoring, Although i have more confidence in our back 4 than those previous matches which is weird cuz those 2 sides were much better than this current set of jokers !!!
Kevin
Feb 23, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Comment #19Again – I honestly believe that Butt and Smith will start EVERY game for the rest of the season. I believe the only reason they’ve been in the last few sides is due to a clause in their contracts. That was the way the team used to be run in the old days under FFS. I believe King Kev’s hands are tied, as sad as it is to say it.
ScottyT
Feb 23, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Comment #20id have ed’s team apart from change thug (barton) for zog or even butt for barton just as long as barton doesnt play sorry but i hate him and also would give harper a chance as given may be injured again and hes had enough injuries on that groin.
gutted emre wont be playing 🙁 hes our only creative player will be hard for us to break down their defense now although maybe its better to have a team of battlers for a game like today
and yh what a great man the legend that is sir bobby robson
tommyy
Feb 23, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #21Kevin – It seems like you are right, they must play in every game when fully fit and available? but it can’t be.
Callum
Feb 23, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Comment #22Kevin – We loaned out Butt and Smith was signed during Ashley’s reign so i dont think its in their contracts that they have to play 🙂
Kevin
Feb 23, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Comment #23Callum – you’re right about Smith. Bad shortsight on my part. But I’m just trying to think of logical reasons why the King continues to make the same mistake BFS did….let’s hope he gets over it quickly!
I’ve got a mate, who’s a Man U supporter, coming over to mine to watch the game on TV – let’s hope I can rub a result in his face!!
nate dawg
Feb 23, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Comment #24hi any one know what chaneel the match is on tvu
TooooooN
Feb 23, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Comment #25even if emre is not injured, he won’t start and we still dont know why
Gooderz
Feb 23, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Comment #26I hate to say it but I hope Emre goes in the summer. He just gets too many niggling little injuries.
If we lost him and a couple of the defensive midfielders and replaced them with 3 good ball players with at least 2 being well endowed on the creative side of things then we would have competition in midfield which would benefit our attacking game, instead of relying on Emre alone as we currently do.
toon4lyf
Feb 23, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Comment #27naw du fook sell emre .emre is clearly our best player and no point buying unnessarry new player then waiting fer ages for them to settle in keep emre sell barton butt viduka carr and then buy arca mgeady crouch
Leo*
Feb 23, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Comment #28its a damn shame that he is injured!!!
it means that pr1ck nicky butt gets a game, and i dispise him, i really do, he is really bad, not going to go on why, but he is ruining our club, along with joey barton its quite disgusting to watch
AdamCF
Feb 23, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Comment #29As soon as they get rid off Big Sam’s Sports Science experts, injuries start to happen. And none of them have been on the pitch.
Paul R
Feb 24, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Comment #30I think emre is a good player but we need people to fight and graft and give everything to the colours im afraid sick note is doing them emre carr viduka … HIT THE ROAD PLEASE … because if we did get relegated can you imagine this lot scrapping it out in the champoinship i think not !! they would just go on to the next sucker team and good luck to them … just cant wait until this pain has gone and we hopefully stay up and start next season in the PL afresh !!