Some good news today in that both Joey Barton and Alan Smith will be resuming training next week, and could be ready to play within a couple of weeks.
Joey Barton - returns to training next week
Former Manchester United and Leeds striker, Alan Smith, has been sidelined with an Achilles injury since early September, and of course Joey has had a right knee injury he picked up in the home game against Wigan in mid-November.
The return of Barton will be particularly welcomed by Joe Kinnear, but the return of Smith to fitness could signal his transfer away from Newcastle, either permanently or on loan initially in January, with a permanent deal being struck in the summer.
There was news recently that Everton boss David Moyes would like to take him to Goodison, but Moyes may wait for him to prove he is over his knee injury before making a move later this month.
Joe Kinnear has said he prefers to put players in their best positions, so we just cannot see Alan Smith getting many games for Newcastle up front, and it’s probably a win-win that Alan moves elsewhere in January.
Presumably Joe would like a permanent deal for Smith, so he can get some transfer money to spend, but we know Everton have no such money to spend, at least in January.
Comments welcome.
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26 responses so far ↓
1 shay please leave // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:11 AM
so what smith is useless btw amiobie got new contract 3 yrs
2 jenson // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:11 AM
RICHIE . AMEOBI SIGNING IS LIKE A ”new” SIGNING AS I THINK HE WILL BE THE LONE SIGNING OF NUFC……………………….
3 dougnufc // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:14 AM
WHY SHOLA!
4 Todd // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:16 AM
smith wont play for united again.
5 Xisco Stu // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
“The deal means that the Geordie striker has NOT committed his future to the Magpies until the summer of 2012.”
Is that a mistake or honesty on the official site?
6 Born Again Geordie // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Barton – good news ! Smith the only positive thing I can draw from this is he may be fit to offload in the current window!
are you watching David Moyes ? LOL
7 I-toons // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:36 AM
So much for David Craig’s signing….
8 k k forever // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:37 AM
SHAY PLEASE LEAVE GO PUT UR HEAD IN A BUCKET OV S HITE
9 Mark S // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Still cant understand why Ameobi has a new contract, we have been trying to offload this dud for a year.. sorry I know he tries, but he is just not good enough IMO
10 jim // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:39 AM
XISCO STU- yes there well thick-asking for 17.99 to join and they cant even edit the page before its sent-lol-bruce almighty! wots the future hold if we have to keep shola-taste of things to come? i hope not! ide say were fcuked meeself like-a long shot from the former european football and challenging up the top-its a fact shepherd had more ambition for the club despite his financial errors and blunders-wish we had of been bought by a rich lot-never mind-tut tut tut-
11 adam // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:39 AM
we are saved!
12 Jimmie // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Good question Xisco Stu.. wonder what that means, or if its just some wrong typing there..
13 Jimmie // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Maybe they just wants him to sign so they can sell him with a fee instead of losing him for nothing in the summer
14 k k forever // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:42 AM
JIM DOT THINK FREDDY WAS THAT BAD FAT ASH IS THE DEVIL
15 The Entertainers // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:48 AM
I really hope Smith comes back and is the player is was a Leeds / Man U.
I was a big fan when he was at those clubs.
I know hes in last chance saloon, but i’m hopeful. Anyway what have i got to lose, he cant be any worse!
16 Neil // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Well that’s good news for every other club except ours – Shola remains on the wage bill for the next 3 years. At least Keegan could see what every other NUFC fan can see with Shola – He’s a waste of space infact I can’t believe I’ve wasted so much time on him typing this message!!! LOL
17 Todd // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM
shola could’ve attracted 4m, to a club such as stoke. we do not need him, as much as i feel for the guy he’s just not good enough.
18 Mikey24 // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Good news about them! i still stand by Smith being able to be a cracking holding midfielder to take over from Butt! well he aint a bloody striker
19 jakey // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:58 AM
david craig:is this what you ment when you said we were signing someone today? I really hope not!
20 BATTY // Jan 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM
we just got dunn from man city wow
21 Toon Graeme // Jan 7, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Well NUFC must have faith in Shola.
Good news. We need all we can get at the moment (players wise_.
Come on Joey son.
Smith – if he stays is last chance saloon to prove in our mid as he is strikeless in the striker position.
22 benn.. // Jan 7, 2009 at 11:26 AM
mikey 24 agreed.. i thiink.. he will be an excellent midfielder alongside barton or guthrie.. and the entertainers i too hope he is back to his leeds days.. we cant get rid of anyone on loan or permanently his window..
smith to score a hatrick in his first game back!
23 sirjasontoon™ - Let's Riot // Jan 7, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Joey Joey !
Smith..PARP !
24 sirjasontoon™ - Let's Riot // Jan 7, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Ben
mikey 24 agreed.. i thiink.. he will be an excellent midfielder alongside barton or guthrie.. and the entertainers i too hope he is back to his leeds days.
Seriously?
25 Toon Olly // Jan 7, 2009 at 12:14 PM
yeh sirjason ill agree with that statement mate, hes got potentialy as a holding midfielder, him and barton have the same sorta dertermination and theres a nice spot of pace btween the two of em like, id rather have him there than butt ANY day
good thing bout signing shola is we can sell him in the summer now!
26 wigaz // Jan 7, 2009 at 7:45 PM
I dont see the point of gettin rid of smith at the moment like. Our squad is paper thin as is! plus having him & Barton back in the team will add some fire to our line up. We dont have enough players who pump everybody up. Barton is better bet for captain than Owen in my opinion. I’d quite happy see Bent come in & replace owen. I’m starting to doubt we will get any signings in this window like.
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