Two players who could really help the team at the moment are out injured, and we are hoping that Mark Viduka and Emre come back from injury just as soon as possible.
Emre and Mark Viduka - both recovering from niggly injuries
But whether or not either will be available for Saturday’s game against Blackburn is not clear.
Keegan talked to the Newcastle Journal this morning about both players:
“They are coming back, but they need games. You expect those players to get fitter and stronger and more confident. We have three or four like that at this club. Mark Viduka hasn’t played here since I’ve been here, but he wants to.â€
“He just gets niggly injuries which stop him from training. Emre came in for one game and then got injured. We need that bit of luck as well, where players stay fit and get full training.â€
There’s no doubt that both players are injury prone, especially Viduka, who seems to miss a lot of games through niggly little injuries. That’s been true his entire career and as he gets older it will likely get worse rather than better.
But that’s the way it is and we’ll have to trust that our medical staff can work some wonders this week and get them fit for Saturday. We need Viduka’s aerial play and goal scoring ability and we need Emre to carve out the chances.
But until Mark is fit we’d like to see Andy Carroll given a start in place of Alan Smith. He looks the part every time he plays and deserves a chance. We think he’ll do very well and he certainly looked threatening against Manchester United on Saturday, well a lot more than Smith, that’s for sure.  He also set up the goal for Faye with his aerial prowess.
Give him a chance Kevin.
Comments welcome.
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76 responses so far ↓
1 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 10:57
viduka is here for a payday! its obvious!
2 Tom_Toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:00
suprise, suprise
3 hanzemre // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:02
hope they try their best to get fit in time & playing some part in that huge game.
4 Graham // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:06
I hope Emre is fit but I doubt it. Also, Ive just checked the 5 day weather forecast and apparently its heavy rain on Saturday so that rules Viduka out
5 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:14
Are they really not fit or is that just a smoke-screen when coaches don’t wanna play someone but don’t wanna damage the players rep by allowing the press to go saying that they’ve been dropped?..How the hell can thet still be injured?..They never friggen play?..
6 tony // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:14
play owen and carrol up front
7 Ian // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:16
So Martins will be fit?? I thought he was still injured too?
8 Kash2 // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:16
Is enrique fit?
which team would you guys prefer?
Given
Beye Taylor Faye N’Zogbia
Milner Butt Barton Duff
Owen Smith
or
Harper
Beye Edgar Faye/Taylor Enrique
Milner Butt N’Zogbia Duff
Owen Martins
?????????????????
HMMMMMMMMMMMMM
9 Bryan // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:18
I think Andy Carroll should not be the only youngster we bring into the first team. How many games does it take very well paid professionals to stop looking like a Sunday morning side defensively. Not just the back four, although they have been appalling all season, but the midfield as well. Every player has a defensive duty towards the team, and if they are not doing that then they put added pressure on a very figile defence. Blame must also be apportioned towards our coaching staff. For gods sake what is actually going on at the training ground.
If the kids they have brought in are so good, give them a chance. They certainly cant be any worse then whats on show at the moment.
The players need to stop deluding themselves that they are too good to go down, because at this moment in time we are by far the worst time in the league. That is not an opinion but fact. Until these so called superstars start wearing the shirt with pride and honour, and sweating blood for the good of the club and supporters before themselves, then we are heading towards oblivion like Leeds Utd.
God prayer i am wrong.
10 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:23
changing the subject a little here but im just curious as to where ever body comes from on this blog.. i mean, we all talk but for all we know we could be neigbours or summit.
i will start! im from Ouseburn in newcastle. Overlooking the tyne river. over to you lot.
11 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:33
I’m living in Camden town, London, gooner territory sadly, not quite as bad as ‘nam tho’, phew!..Not quite neigbours then!..
12 greek toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:34
Athens
13 Doctapaul // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:35
Well I was born in Rothbury, raised in Tynemouth and now live doon sooth. Travel 300 miles for every home game.
Like Ed Harrison I worked for IBM for many years.
14 Kash2 // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:35
London, in the city. From Newcastle originally though, went to St Mary’s in Benton. Folks live in Darras Hall!
15 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:39
My family come from Jarrow, but i got dragged all around the NE(33 different houses before i was 18), but mostly grew up in Darlington, co. Durham
16 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:41
wow,, a good variety! Athens! im a jealous of you. how come you ended up supporting Newcastle? Remember Nikos Dabizas! i liked him.. he scored some goals.
we have a couple of london boys here too. Nice one. Kash 2,, i take it your folks have a few bob?
17 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:43
punk skunk, i recently went to camden coz i went to london zoo. it was a nice place. i visted the camden market too. I was half expecting to see amy winehouse or pete doherty knocking about. i hear they live round there?
18 Mat // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:43
Fiji, South Pacific…
19 GM // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:45
I want carol to start as well if oba is unfit, also if enrique is still injured or deemed not good enough then play edgar left back or even geremi right back and baye at left back, then play zog in the middle in place of barton with butt or faye alongside him. Cant see it though, i think same as the abortion last week in terms of team selection.
Broon ale : Cramlington for me
20 Shearer9 // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:45
Oba will give us a big lift. we need to stop playing Alan Smith and start using him as a squad player to fill gaps, not as a main striker. i agree, Carrol should get the nod infront of Smith if Oba isn’t fit.
I’d play Taylor and Faye in the centre again but left full back is a real problem. he want’s to play Duff anf N’Zogbia as he doesn’t want to drop one of them. he’ll have to drop one I think, as Zog is not a defender… I’d drop Duff if anyone… he looked sharper against Utd but he doesn’t seem to be confident enough to take anyone one. We need a mainstay centre midfielder… a Deco or a Fabregas, we’ve missed that this season, Barton was terrible last weekend, Emre needs to get fit and playing to his full potential.
never thought i’d say this but I’ve been really disappointed with Given’s kicking and distribution this season… since that stomach injury he hasn’t been the same, shot stopping class as ever … but we’ve let in so many efforts from free kicks and long range this year…I’m sick of being on the recieving end of goal of the month !!
Big game this weekend for the Toon, we all know they can do it. Howay the lads.
21 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:48
Aye they do broon ale, & what’s more they both come into the recording/rehearsal studio that i manage!..
…But Whiney Whorehouse’s fave boozer burnt down the other weekso that’s prob. why y’didn’t bump into her, aw, & i hear she’s having a bit of a rough time at the mo’, apparently!..
22 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:49
mat, whats you connections with newcastle? Born here and moved to Fiji? there’s me sitting at work depressed with life of being a newcastle fan and there’s no escaping the harsh realitys of how crap we are… at least you guys can go outside and see Fiji and athens and forget all about whats going on at newcastle.
23 Jimmie // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:49
Stockholm - Sweden
24 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:50
punk skunk,, you dont own the recording studio that max carlish recorded doherty doing drugs do you?
25 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:51
jimmie, remember andreas andersson! he was horrendous. how did you end up over there?
26 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:53
Na mate, i wouldn’t be able to write if i did, would i?..Ha!..I just manage one for a friend, so i get to make music…& i just can’t get it together to work for the MAN!..if y’knowarra mean?..
27 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:54
punk skunk,, here;s my myspace profile.. if you click on the videos section under my picture you can see me chanting some tunes out.. far from studio quality im afraid.. more like drunken mobile phone quality.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=60236902
28 Paul R // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:56
viduka pls catch the next flight back to oz and stay there u are nothing but a greedy lazy lardy arse !! and as for emre i really like him when he plays but im afriad his wages could be better used on other plyers ! I would like to see Kazenga Lua Lua and smith given a chance in the middle of the park (lets fgace it he will always play smith so lets try him there where he can work hard all game!??) it has to be better than barton butt !!
29 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:57
Hey, that’s pretty good bro’, don’t do y’self down man…Y’don’t really earn 1/4 mil tho’ d’y'?..
30 Bryan // Feb 26, 2008 at 11:57
Broon ale - I think you have started something here. People seem to be posting about themselves and where they lived as opposed to the concerns of NUFC.
By the way I am from Alnwick.
31 Bryan // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:02
Broon ale - This is getting out of hand. If you want to chat to people use Bebo not this site. I want to discuss NUFC not other peoples lifestyles.
32 Ausgeordie // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:03
I’m from Sydney Australia. Never seen a live game but one day hope to. Watch every 4am match though. Its 1am vs blackburn this saturday night yay
33 Ausgeordie // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:04
Bryan get over it. Its the first time its ever happened and its good.
34 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:07
Bryan, it’s a bit of light relief bro’, i think we’re prob. all a bit jaded by recent events!..i know i am, soz mate!..
we’ll get it back together soon man!..
35 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:07
bryan.. howway man.. this blog simply recycles storys published elsewhere,, whether it be newspapers or the official website, nufc.com, true-faith or where ever.. you start a discussion and by the time you go back on the main page there is another subject been added. if you dont want to get involved with finding out a little more about your fellow newcastle fans, simply go on another subject.. im willing to bet by the time i post this there will something else added so you have plenty to choose. you dont have to join in this discussion.
36 steve // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:12
working in the city (London) - originally from scally whitley bay and went to Monkseaton High
37 greek toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:13
Broon ale, the grass is always greener mate. I was educated in the uk and went to newcastle university in the 80’s. Still go back and love it over there.
38 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:15
ausgeordie,, thats dedication for you. 1am watching the toon.. few cans of fosters or castlemain 4 X.. happy days. sounds good to me.. pity the football is horrendous at the moment. Im sure if you want to see a live game it wouldnt be too hard to find someone to put up some digs for you on a matchday weekend and go to the match with you
39 greek toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:15
Bryan, just a bit of light relief from the misery
40 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:18
Ahhh whitley bay,,,the spanish city.. its being knocked down now! Greek toon, its good to see your time in newcastle studying made an impression on you sufficiently to end up a life supporter. it is indeed light relief.. we will be reading all week leading up to blackburn how its a must win game and we must try harder etc.. i am not even getting my hopes up. this takes my mind off it.
41 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:22
brian if you want a serious newcastle discussion out of me here is my thoughts,.
I honestly think 3 wins will see us ok, simply because the teams below us are just as awful. I only draw consolation from the fact that it’s in our own hands. I only hope KK can see what we can see at the end of the season i.e Ameobi, Carr, Smith, Viduka amongst others, are simply not going to make us into a top 6 side. Barton is a thug who’d be doing 10 years now if he was a factory worker. I still trust Keegan, and the fact he didn’t buy in january suggests he’s confident enough, so we have to go with it, but what concerns me is that this notion we can just win our 3 homes against the teams below us and all is ok, you cannot pick and choose the games you decide to win. It was utterly galling to see Spurs and the ex-Toonies picking up medals on Sunday, they’re only a couple of wins ahead of us in the table, and aren’t out of the crap themselves, but you can see the direction they’re headed. I can’t wait for the season to end quite frankly, and that’ll be another ’season in transition’ done and dusted, the 37th out of the last 40 as far as i’m concerned. Thank god for pubs I say!! is that topic enough for you Bri?
42 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:36
Here, here broon ale…Depressing isn’t it?..
43 Jimmie // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:43
Broon Ale: Yes I remember Andreas Andersson (how can I forget) Nice move by Dalglish to sell Les Ferdinand and replace him with the totaly worseless Andersson.. not! It didnt get any better that he joined AIK, local rivals to the team I support here in Sweden when he returned to Sweden.. I ended up here because I was borned here.. : )
44 kagthemag // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:48
im from north shields (went to st anselms) now live in holystone (not far from the toon centre)
45 Bill F // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:48
Leigh on Sea, Essex. Via Dunston, as a kid I used to play on what is now the Metro Centre which was green fields and ponds. The church in Beamish is the church from Dunston where I was baptised etc. Although I now have more pagan leanings.
46 Bottlodog // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:50
Hi
I’m born and bred in the west end of the Toon
(Lemington)
Working from home in Stockfield ( ’bout 10 miles out of Newcastle for those of you who aren’t familiar with the area)
It’s blaa’in a hooley here at the minute
If any of you were watchin’ the match saturday the cameras closed in on me an’ me mate at the end - all alone in the Leazes - totally pissed off.
That’s my 15 seconds of fame and I never got to see it - had loadsa piss takin texts of mackems and mancs that I know.
Never mind it can only get better
47 Bryan // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:52
Broon ale - Sorry for being what looks like a stick in the mud. I am not. But at this moment in time I dont feel like having general chit chat with people. Mybe I should though because it will proberbly be more entertaining than what I see at SJP. Agree with your last post.
48 chris_toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 12:52
i know the convo waz ages ago lol but i is from PLYMOUTH, DEVON anyone from near??
many many mile from Newcastle lol but prob not as far as athens hehe
49 HonoraryGeordie // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:00
Kash2, you normally make some valid points, but suggesting dropping Faye and leaving Licky manure Butt in the centre…you’re crazy!! Centre mid is where we have lost every game this season, Butt has lost the ability to pass and is too slow to get back into position after his headless escapades, and zog, barton, emre, smith are all too slow or too short or just not good enough! This makes our attack look blunt, and our defence out of their depth, yet Butt still gets in the team! Faye isn’t a great CB, his postioning lets him down, but his shear athleticism and height and strength mean that in DM he is perfect. We then would have a basis to play a Barton or an Emre, because their shackles (Nicky Butt’s inabilities) would be removed. The team could gain some confidence in a defence that wasn’t gonna be bullied, and our attack could start to flow from the back!
Nicky Butt is the root of all evil!
50 Doctapaul // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:01
AusG, Joke…
Why do Ozzies call their beer “xxxx”.
Because they can’t spell pi$$?
Bryan,
The nice thing about Blogs (as opposed to Forums) is that they can take you to weird places. And there’s none more weird than Geordies trying to lighten up at the mo.
51 Bill F // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:08
Oh and I am chuffed that Emre might be back and will be just as chuffed if Viduka aint. Keep Carroll up front and stick Edgar and Lua Lua in instead of Butt and Barton. Leave Smith anywhere but on the pitch.
52 Andreas // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:14
I am a Swede, living in Stockholm. Try to catch a game or so per season live, out of convinience and ease of getting a ticket this means an away game in London against WH/Fulham/Charlton. Would love to get hold of a ticket at SjP (at a time when I can travel).
Very depressing season so far (and that won’t change most likely) but I do think we’ll manage to avoid going down (won’t be with much though). Can just pray for a major improvment next season.
53 GP // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:19
I’ve lived in Four Lane Ends since I was kid, not far from the uni campus.
Hope Emre will be back soon, I think if he gets a run of games he’ll do really well for us.
54 mikeygd // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:23
From Kent, Moving to Ovingham in newcastle in June though.
55 Hadji // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:26
I’m from Skopje-Macedonia
and all the sources i have here is that Pandev will join us for 25 mill euros in the summer.
That should be around 19 mill pounds if i’m correct.
56 Bottlodog // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:30
Mikeygd I’m sat looking over the Tyne to Ovingham as we speak ( by the way it’s in Northumberland not Newastle )
57 Punk Skunk // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:34
Hadji, get y’self round there bro’ & put down a deposit on him!..
58 broon ale // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:35
people from from far and wide brought together for our love of the toon. sweeden, macedonia, athens, Fiji, australia, durham, four lane ends, lemington, plymouth!
Mikeygd, are you moving up just to be closer to newcastle or are you originaly from up here and then moved to kent? Hadi, who are these sources you speak of and how reliable are they?
59 Shanghaitoon // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:36
I was born in Newcastle but moved around a lot as a kid. Back to the toon when I was 13 and went to Gosforth High (As did Shearer). Now I live in Shanghai in China and travel all over Asia all the time.
60 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 26, 2008 at 13:43
im from the toon… born and bred in the city of newcastle
61 Hadji // Feb 26, 2008 at 14:22
From the Macedonian Press and i’m not quite sure what’s gonna happen to Rozehnal,i mean if he’s gonna be part of the deal or not.
But i think he will which leads us to a 15 mill pounds + Rozehnal.
By the way in Skopje where i live which is the capital of Macedonia,i havent seen any fan clubs such as Barcelona,AC Milan,Inter etc but we do have a fan club for Newcastle which has around 1500 members.This is very strange cause Skopje has 1.1 mill population and all who watch football which is 80%(20% i dont count cause they’re over 80 or more) are as follows:
Inter-25% but no fan club
Man Utd-20% but no fan club
Barca-15%no fan club
Ac Milan-10%no fan club
and then Liverpool,Real Madrid etc have some percentage but no fan club.
And check this out
Newcastle-0.8% with a great fan club since 4 years ago.
That’s just an example and proof that we unlike others LOVE our club.
62 paddyq // Feb 26, 2008 at 14:32
helsinki, finland
smith and butt need to be dropped, is there something going on behind the scenes that we dont know? my grandmother can see that they are useless players why arent they getting more stick from the media or coaching staff???
63 Zuton The Great // Feb 26, 2008 at 14:34
From the Orion constellation. Have supported The Great Toon aliens for many zeltecs. We abducted many of your prime females and found them pleasing. The biggest attraction was the strange liquid beverage that makes you feel good called Broon Ale. Or as some of you call it Bottlodog
As an alien race oppressed by the Red Dog beings of Alpha Centauri we have great sympathy for your often hopeless struggle against great adversity and will follow your team untill our demise.
Wagga wiiga Wagga the Toon
PS who would you like us to abduct to help your cause. The Slime beasts of Phobos need feeding.
64 mark // Feb 26, 2008 at 15:21
In the summer I would sell
Ameobi - Useless, £1m
Carr - Useless, big wage for him, released.
Barton - Not the player I thought we had, personal problems aside. £4m
Rozenhal - Lazio - £3m
Cacapa - £1m, good defender, but not in the EPL, he hasnt settled and struggled to adjust in this late stage of his career.
Viduka- £1m, big wages, good player but never fit, whats the point in having him?
Sign
Andriy Arshavin £6 - 8m, fast, skillfull, creative, does anyone else think we need that?
Daniel Van Buyten £4m, commanding, strong, no nonsense, takes no prisoners, organiser, as above, anyone reckon thats what we have lacked for so long???
Martin Laursen, free, good defender, no fee and not massive wages, we may aswell as he is a good defender.
Goran Pandev £14m, pacey, strong, good striker, maybe not a hard worker, but scores the goals.
Giles Barnes £3m, young, ambitious, new jenas but better? great price.
Aiden McGeady £9m as above. he is tipped to replace Giggs and Man Utd.
Emile Heskey - Anyone? him and MO. great partnership. £5m and I would.
Wayne Bridge - £6m, since Enrique seems to be alongside the former spick flops Luque and Marcelino.
65 greek toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 16:17
bottlodog. I know that area quite well as I had a girl friend who lived in a place called Prudho next to the tyne river. Do you live near Prudho?
66 Doctapaul // Feb 26, 2008 at 16:22
Dear GT,
Its spelt Prudhoe but pronounced Prudda. Mind you I find Geordie easier to learn that Greek. Yassou.
67 Doctapaul // Feb 26, 2008 at 16:30
Dear Zuton,
Saturn entered Virgo at the beginning of this footy season and will remain in Virgo for 2.5 years. This heralds a shakedown for all in terms of dodgy wealth and power. (This btw is from ancient wisdom passed down for 1000s of years).
I trust Newcastle has had its shakedown. We have ridden ourselves of the Shepherd and the Dyce Man.
Can you have a word with Naboo to see if he can do anything to help Newcastle?
68 greek toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 16:34
Yes it is Prudhoe, sorry about that. I like the high standard of English spelling and grammar on this site by the way
and the way we are corrected 
Howay the Toon!
69 greek toon // Feb 26, 2008 at 16:38
Doctapaul, yasoou file mou!
70 Tripp // Feb 26, 2008 at 16:42
Denver, Colorado, USA. Some day will visit. Gotta get to SJP for a match. The exchange rate is shite ATM, though. Hopefully it’ll get a little better before we cross the pond.
I say give Carrol a run out. Can’t be any worse than what we’ve got right now.
71 Zuton The Great // Feb 26, 2008 at 16:46
Doctapaul, Strange you should mention him but I asked him to explain the bizzarre off-side rule and how it strangely effects the Toon bipeds more than any other of the arena participants.
He went off to see the great brain many quackdons ago and I have not seen him since.
72 jeffa // Feb 26, 2008 at 17:01
Martin Laursen, free, good defender, no fee and not massive wages, we may aswell as he is a good defender.
he’s only just signed a new deal
73 Whitt // Feb 26, 2008 at 17:10
Viduka is NOT an aerial threat. He certainly hasn’t won a header this season. He just doesn’t work hard enough on the pitch to do it. This is a shame, because he is probably our most creative player in the team. He just has to get the ball played straight in to his feet, otherwise he will do nothing all game, as he does not work defensively. Unfortunately, this doesn’t really match the rest of the team, as we don’t seem to have anyone who can make a simple pass to feet.
74 Bottlodog // Feb 26, 2008 at 17:31
greek toon - 2 miles from Prudhoe mate
75 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 26, 2008 at 17:55
whitt viduka scored a goal from a headed against west ham! do you actually watch newcastle
i get your point though he isnt enough of a threat, he isnt mobile enough
76 Shearer9 // Feb 27, 2008 at 13:49
I’ve given Nicky Butt a lot of Sh*t since he got here but am slowly warming to him. He’s not supposed to shine he’s supposed to compliment his midfield partner ie a Scholes or a Gerrard. Sadly he’s been partnered with utter sh*t since he joined the toon, glimpses of Emre have been all the scraps he’s got. Certianly him and Smith are painful to watch. Defensive frailties aside, we really need a big name in the middle of the park… Barton was supposed to do this but he’s dramatically underdelivered. Bring on an ELANO or DECO or BENTLEY or someone like that to drive us forward from the middle. While we’re at it we may as well replace Butt as he’s on borrowed time, shame we missed out on Diarra to Pompey as he’d have fitted the bill… Gotta love our strikers and wingers build the team around them. defensively they can all be sold barr Taylor, BEYE and RAMAGE.
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