We are short of strikers and now it could be that captain Michael Owen will miss the start of the season with injury.
Michael Owen – may not be fit enough for Old Trafford
Manager Keegan hopes to include Obafemi Martins at home to Valencia this coming Saturday after a knee injury has cleared up, and the plan is also to give Michael Owen a game on that day.
Kevin told The Journal today:
“Michael will be back with us, hopefully on the bench in the second game on Saturday, but it will take some work to get him fit,â€
“We have to be different with him as he picked up a calf strain.â€
That now looks as though Michael may not make the game against Manchester United a week on Saturday, which will be bad news for the Newcastle supporters, and a bit of a surprise.
The Valencia match on Saturday will be Newcastle’s very last game before the competitive action starts. The time is also dragging on Michael’s new contract, and there is still no new news on that front.
However, Kevin seems unconcerned when asked what progress had been made with Owen:
“I don’t know,†“I have been concentrating on stuff out here.”
“I’ll find out when I get back but I am not worried about it.â€
Keegan seems justifiably concerned about the unavailability of some of his senior players, and it’s really bad news when after a full summer of rest players cannot make the first game because of long term injuries.
Kevin continued:
“I can’t fault their attitude but we had 11 players who weren’t even involved against Mallorca,†“We could have had another team out.”
“We are down to one forward and have also lost the underbelly of it with (Andy) Carroll out for a month and (Kazenga) LuaLua, who would strengthen your bench.”
“We don’t have many youngsters at the club. Some of the kids we have really are kids.â€
There’s a classic quote from Kevin – some of the kids we have really are kids.
One for the future no doubt. 😀
We do seem to have injury problems that are now threatening to keep captain Michael Owen, as well as Mark Viduka out of our opening game at PL and European Champions Manchester United – not good.
Comments welcome.
137 comments so far
gorskino10
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Comment #1man I love this owen is plauged with injuries and he feels he is worth 110k a week what a joke next he’ll have skyverlitous or something, we don’t have a chance against man ute as we won’t score we hope we can pack midfield and struggle to get a draw is there any good news coming put of nufc.
andyglostoon
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Comment #2call me a cynic but maybe this is owen ,knowing that if injured now no club would put in a decent offer for him before the end of the transfer window,so owen refuses ashleys new pay deal and then gets a free transfer at the end of the season with a big payday ahead!but then again i am a cynic at times
ObaFan2
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Comment #3If Owen makes an appearance on Saturday V Valencia he’d certainly be in the team for Old Trafford?
Ericles
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Comment #4Owen injured again…again…again…again…Viduka? I am getting a bit fed up with these expensive part-timers at NUFC.
Matt Lacey
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Comment #5…and we haven’t bought a new striker… why? 2 of our 3 decent strikers are injury prone, and the one that isn’t is injured anyway!
Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Comment #6Are we in a time loop?
andyglostoon
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Comment #7maybe owen thinks we are going to get thrashed at old trafford and would rather watch from home!
Owld NME Gadge
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Comment #8This makes a mockery of the boasts about how fit we are.
Fed up with the lies eminating from NUFC these days.
hitman
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Comment #9its a worry,because if we get a hiding off manu the backlash towards ashley will be deafining.
DanToon
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #10Useless!
faustino
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Comment #11PANIC…..PANIC…..BUY……BUY!?!?!*!?!*!?!
only joking.
Common tactic to report your best striker is going to be injured for a game.
Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Comment #12……………Are we in a time loop?
Curly-cinni
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Comment #13owens injured again…so what else is new?
domtoon
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Comment #14Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh what is happening to our club?? When will the nightmare eeennndddd??
dingo
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Comment #15Are we in a time loop?
Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Comment #16………………………………….Are we in a time loop?
ObaFan2
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Comment #17You mean like a Feddy film where you think you’ve woken up but still stuck in a nightmare…………
domtoon
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Comment #18are we in a time loop?
Yo
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Comment #19Correct me if I’m wrong, but there is nothing in that article suggesting that Owen will miss the Old Trafford game.
He is injured yes, but don’t be surprised to see him on the bench at the very least come opening day.
9 Shearer
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Comment #20Owen will play, sign a new contract and get one passed united. Him and Beye are the missing factor at the club.
tyneside tommo
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Comment #21What a cynical lot you people are today. Michael always gives 110% for the cause and to suggest he’s trying to duck out of the Man U game is just ridiculous.
However, only as a precautionary measure you understand, I took the liberty of submitting Michael’s name to the “Can You Live in the USA” site.
Only I ran out of time when attempting to fill in his medical history.
Davies
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Comment #22Mixed reports really, some papers say Owen’s okay, others are saying he’s not.
If Keegan thinks he’ll be okay to face Valencia, surely he’ll be all better the following week to face Man Utd.
I really do hope that Moyes is after Smith. Be nice if he’d take Barton too. I Barton even allowed in Liverpool at the moment?
Davies
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Comment #23Oh yes, and are we in a time loop?…..
James
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Comment #24Owen will start against Man Utd and will score
ObaFan2
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Comment #25Moyes has more sense, unfortunately for us and can’t see him being at Everton much longer as Everton are not backing him either!!!!!!!!!
Graham
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Comment #26The bulk of you lot are a disgrace to NUFC and Owen! Do you think he buggered his ankle on purpose when he saw the fixture list?
Stop being so negative and cynical and start getting behind the team, management and owners for a change
This isn’t aimed at everyone but certainly the bulk of the numptys above!
Dondatta13
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Comment #27Erm ….. What happened with this Coloccini signing?
People dont like us knocking Ashley but the guy doesnt really help him self does he?
He’s purchased the football equivalent to a Humvee (Hummer) but cant afford to put petrol into it
Is he an idiot? lol
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Comment #28probably!!!???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ANON
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Comment #29he’ll come off the bench and get a consolation goal
Graham
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Comment #30Yeah obviously any idiot can amass a £2bn fortune can’t they?
Yo
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Comment #31HPS! Do you know that you end every sentence with an exclamation mark! Has anyone else noticed this! It is starting to annoy me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Yo
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Comment #32Some you really are flogs… Do think Ashley got to where he is in life by being an ‘idiot’?
FFS the man has saved this club from the brink and slowly but surely the ship is going back on course.
What do you lot expect? That he just snaps his fingers and Kaka lands on our pitch?
samvil
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Comment #33If KK said MO will be on the bench against Valencia, why wouldn’t he feature against manu?
hitman
Aug 5, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Comment #34graham ashley is pleading poverty he puts up season ticket prices,but hardly puts any money into the first team.
Yo
Aug 5, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Comment #35samvil- Exactly mate, exactly. It seems that some of the flogs on this sight enjoy moaning for the sheer sake of it.
You would think we were in bloody League 1 the way some of you moan on a daily basis! Lighten the f@ck up!
hitman
Aug 5, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Comment #36wheres the money that was promised to kk.
AndyNUFC
Aug 5, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Comment #37Owen: So erm, Wise, you got that £120,000 a week with bonuses contract sorted out?…
Wise: Well Micky, i’m pretty sure you’re aware that Ashley wants a wage structure that will benefit the club financially and also mean that players actually earn their pay?
Owen: Hmm, well, that’s all very fine and well, but if you have another look, i’m actually Michael Owen, y’know, Liverpool, Real Madrid and England international Michael Owen?
Wise: Well that’s a good example, the wage structure means that reputations do come into it, but overall appearances, performances and form are more important. We thought a pay-as-you-play offer for you would be good, seeing as you’re slightly *as in over a year out* injury prone.
Owen: Ah right, I see what’s going on here. Nevermind, i’ve got a trick up my sleeve, it’s called, ‘injured-when’you’re-not’ sort of offer. Yes, i’ve mastered it to such a fine art that i’ve got a private doctor on speed dial to give me silly injuries on the spot. Get a load of that with your “no more mercenaries” policy!
Bucks_mag
Aug 5, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Comment #38the same thing happened last season as well
Relegatedatthestart
Aug 5, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Comment #39This has been one of the most depressing pre seasons that I can remember. I just hope and pray that the management are hiding a top class signing or two!
We are looking at a relegation fight if Wise and his troup dont get anyone in. Owen is holding out to see if any top class midfielders are arriving, and if they dont lets kiss him goodbye.
Sorry to those whom are more optimistic than myself, however it really has been hard to see any change from last season.
Spend Some Cash Ash
Bob
Aug 5, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Comment #40As long as he’s fit for Bolton, that’s fine.
We need the points at Bolton and we need to get through in the cup, we can write off the Man Utd game.