It seems that Newcastle are getting most of their players back fit again at the right time of the season.
Peter Lovenkrands – back again on Monday night
The Coca Cola Championship’s final day of the season is five weeks tomorrow, when there will be a full quota of games.
And in that time the Newcastle club will be playing their last 8 games starting with Nottingham Forest in Monday night.
Of the eight games remaining, four are at home and four away.
And Newcastle manager Chris Hughton expects quite a few players to be available again for Monday night’s titanic game at St. James’ Park. against 3rd placed Nottingham Forest.
Alan Smith, Shola Ameobi and Peter Løvenkrands are all set to return from injury.
The only player who is now out for the season is 24 year-old Steven Taylor and that was a self inflicted blow to the club, so to speak, and as we all found out last Tuesday.
But we seem to be well covered at center-back with Coloccini, Williamson and the impressive young Tamas Kadar, and Chris Hughton decided not to go into the loan market for another center-back last week.
And good news that 27 year-old Joey Barton made his first appearance since September as a substitute at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday evening.
José Enrique was wisely rested by Chris Hughton at Doncaster, to ensure the Spaniard is gully recovered from his hamstring problems, but he will almost certainly line up at left-back on Monday night.
It’s good that Shola Ameobi is back again after a lengthy lay-of because of his hamstring problems, and it will be good to see Shola in action again.
Shola showed some of his best form ever at Newcastle last August, which got the Newcastle club off to a great start in the league.
But the local lad may find it hard to push himself into the starting line-up, in front of Carroll, Lovenkrands and Leon Best.
As far as the team line-up for Monday night we think Chris will plump for the following starting eleven:
Harper
Simpson Coloccini Williamson Enrique
Routledge Nolan (c) Guthrie Gutierrez
Lovenkrands Carroll
So no place in that side for Alan Smith, Joey Barton, Shola Ameobi, Nicky Butt or Tamas Kadar, who was Man of the Match on Tuesday night.
That shows we have a decent set of players available right now, which we will need, and the bench on Monday night will be very strong.
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
Turkish Magpie
Mar 27, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Comment #1Was Kadar official MOTM? GUD ON HIM!
The Entertainers
Mar 27, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Comment #2Carnt argue with that line up Ed, although Kadar must be a bit disappointed to be left out if thats the case.
gunnarnufc
Mar 27, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Comment #3I think Kadar should start the game ahead of Williamson. Kadar has worked very hard for the club and I think he has done well enough to ensure a place in the first team, at least until he does something to prove not worthy of that place.
richietoon
Mar 27, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Comment #4Kadar played well v Donny Rovers but I havn’t seen him given MOM aywhere.Agree with gunnar he should keep his place until he doesn’t deserve it.Williamson has done really well but the player in possesion keeps it until he messes it up.
nufc2009
Mar 27, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Comment #5do any ye no if we win the coca cola championship will it break our long wait for a trophey
ksmit
Mar 27, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Comment #6Doesn’t break the long wait… technically we won a trophy a few seasons back when we won the Intertoto Cup but you’ll notice that everyone ignores that one… we can do the same with this really… just bragging rights
costello91
Mar 27, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Comment #7hey guys check this out!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1261001/Newcastles-Andy-Carroll-shows-bandaged-hands-50-Cent-concert-bust-Steven-Taylor.html
must of battered tayls!!!
GeordieGerman
Mar 27, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Comment #8“But the local lad may find it hard to push himself into the starting line-up, in front of Carroll, Lovenkrands and Leon Best”.
OK Ed, agree with the Carroll and Lovenkrands bit. But Best is no competition for Ameobi.
Tom4Nufc
Mar 27, 2010 at 3:10 PM
Comment #91-0 Reading 🙂
i Toon
Mar 27, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Comment #10Go Reading Go
Tom4Nufc
Mar 27, 2010 at 4:57 PM
Comment #111-1 FT good result for us! 🙂