Newcastle have just confirmed on their web-site, that striker Leon Best will be out several weeks, as he recovers from a knee ligament injury.
Leon Best – will be out several weeks with knee injury
The 25-year-old Ireland International striker damaged his left knee after only 12 minutes of the game on Sunday, after a tackle by Stephen Warnock, during the 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa.
As it turns out Warnock was also involved with injuring Ryan Taylor 18 minutes later, and Ryan now has a very sore right ankle, and both of Stephen’s tackles seemed to be a little wild, but he was never given a yellow card.
And just how Yohan Cabaye is out for three games for his altercation with defender Adam El-Abd in the FA Cup at Brighton, we have no idea.
Stephen’s two tackles on Sunday both seemed to be a lot worse that what Yohan did, and it’s about time the referees were a lot more consistent in the Premier League.
A Newcastle club statement said:
“Newcastle United can today confirm that Leon Best has sustained medial ligament damage to his left knee.”
“The striker was forced off in the early stages of Sunday’s home victory over Aston Villa having picked up an injury while trying to get a shot away.”
“After being assessed by the club’s medical staff, Best underwent a scan on Tuesday and will be out for a number of weeks.”
Best was replaced by debut boy Papiss Cisse, who was signed by Newcastle from SC Freiburg for £9M, and the 26 year-old scored a magnificent winner in the 71st-minute.
Best has had a decent season, and may have gained from playing with both Ba and Cisse for the remainder of the season, but it will now be a number of weeks before he can do that.
It’s usually around six weeks for someone to recover from knee ligament damage, according to Newcastle manager Alan Pardew.
We wish Leon the best (sorry for the pun) in having a rapid and full recovery.
Comments welcome.
187 comments so far
Best9
Feb 8, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Comment #1awww man 🙁
Best9
Feb 8, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Comment #2heyyy what dya kno, 1st…how juvenile 😛
thepict
Feb 8, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Comment #3Why have the Premier League not looked at Warnick’s two tackles?
Double standards if you ask me.
GarageFlower
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Comment #4I was out for three and a half months when I did my medial ligament,funny thing was two lads I knew who also played and had injured theirs said to me straight away it would be 3 or 4 months.Although Best’s knee maybe didn’t get hit quite as hard as mine.
VanToonMan
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Comment #5Guys as much as I think the FA are inconsistent…esp with Peter Crouch getting away with his off the ball incident…Warnock’s tackles are irrelevant to Cabaye’s incident. You can say that if Rodwell got sent off like he did a while back for his challenge then Warnock should have done so for his one on Ryan Taylor but they were both challenges in play trying to get the ball. Yohan’s was a lash out back at El-Abd and the ball was nowhere near him. Cabaye’s comes into the category of Djibril Cisse’s and peter crouchs both of which are different scenarios to Warnocks
Best9
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Comment #6Warnocks tackles need to be investigated, not only was he Leon Best’s tackler, but Ryan Taylor’s also…both needing to come off injured. Double Standards!!!! Yo Cab is practically innocent in comparison
toonincheek
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Comment #7If Best had not been injured, and Cisse had only come on after 60mins (we many expected), would we have seen the Cisse classic goal and celebration?
Unlikely.
Written in the stars, maybe?
And while so many are talking about some good fortune that we have enjoyed, let’s remember we’ve had our share of bad to go with it.
bassongs_of_praise
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #8Were some of you guys actually watching the game? The tackle on Best was a perfectly good block tackle, unfortunately Best has come off worst. Admittedly the tackle on Taylor was more wild and a bit dangerous but at the end of the day Cabaye kicked someone in the face and got what he deserved.
Its annoying that the FA pick and choose who to retrospectively punish ill admit that but there is no comparison between the Warnock and Cabaye incidents.
Eastander
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Comment #9Rather surprised at people saying their surprises Warnock’s tackles havent been looked at…
The first one was a slide to block the ball, he didnt even tackle best as such Best happened to kick the ball against him which jarred his knee… were you watching the game?
mindshaft
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Comment #10Cabaye incident was completely different, however studs up lunge on Taylor was a straight red in my opinion, however the FA have refused to investigate saying it was an ‘on the ball’ incident, despite Warnock getting nowhere near it
The F.A are recognised worldwide as a joke who are completely out of touch with reality
poolytoon
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #11The f.a. are powerless to act as the referee will have undoubtably mentioned the incident with warnock in his report
VanToonMan
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Comment #12Back onto main topic….i think we need about 25 points to be around 4th/5th. So we are looking at 8 wins out of 14 games….which sounds difficult but when you consider that 5 home games are definitely ‘winnable’ as are a few other away games. It sure is possible…providing no other injuries happen and we have tiote and cabaye back up to speed from the wolves game onwards. Your thoughts guys?
martoon
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Comment #13bassongs_of_praise @ 8. I agree Warnock was making genuine attempts to block albeit a little rash and was certainly not intendning to injure anybody whereas Cabaye tried to kick him in the head!
GarageFlower @ 4 you were probably treated by NHS, Best will have intensive treatment, physio, water exercise etc. which will make a big difference.
Level 7 Hero
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Comment #14Just because a player gets injured doesn’t mean the tackle merits a yellow/red card, diciplinary action or investigation.
eastend toon
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #15personally, i think the below games are winnable
wolves
norwich
west brom
bolton
stoke
wigan
games i dont expect any points from are
spurs
arsenal
liverpool
chelsea
man city
and as for
the mackems
swansea
everton
those games could go either way.
the mackems are a new animal under MON and i reckon it’ll be a tough match, hope we can edge it but MON has the scum playing well,
swansea will be tough, great footballing team.
and the only reason i’m unsure about everton is because we consistently let ourselves down in the final game of the season!
Wor Shearer
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Comment #16@poolytoon
The reason they won’t look at it is that they considered it to be an ‘on the ball’ incident (Warnock was after the ball, apparently) rather than ‘off the ball’ incident (Cabaye was after El-Abd’s face).
geoff777
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #17Warnock’s tackles were fair and done in the heat of battle.
Cabaye’s was a retaliation after a tackle.
I don’t like trial by replay.
If the referee misses it then he misses it.
If we are going to reviews lets do it like rugby or cricket with a limited number of reviews per team, per half..
It’s quick and justice is done 99% of the time.
Did it cross the line, was it a corner or goal kick?
Did he go down like a Mackem tart on a Saturday night?
All or nothing for me.
It is clearly unfair at the moment.
eastend toon
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #18oh, before anyone “has a go” the fact i dont “expect” any points from those 5 games, its not to say we cant get any, all those teams bar man city arent playing well and are all over the place so it kinda depends on which teams turn up, i would be surprised we pick up some points from them and maybe nick the odd win, but i’d rather hope for the best and prepare for the worst y’know
Robin
Feb 8, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Comment #19i didnt know why u guys keep saying Waranock’s tackle is a bad tackle, yea he had injured 2 of our players, but they are not bad tackles.
the first one is just leon tried to shoot even warnock is sliding, the second one…what can you do when you are warnock? stand still?
Les Grossman
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #20Robin
Agreed re BEST, but surely even with your jam jar bottom glasses, you seen that Warnocks Tackle on Raylor was a 2 footed lunge OVER the ball……
‘ What canyou do when you are warnock?’ You can try not snapping the opponenants leg and getting in a decent tackle thats what you can do!!!!
fungus44
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Comment #21every other team gets away with bad tackles but not us ever since we asked the fa to ban de-jong for breaking HBA,s leg they have had it in for us
Les Grossman
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Comment #22I think we CAN get at least a draw out of Tootenhomo at the weekend!! Why NOT?
Their defence isnt great, and if we hark back to ‘we gonna score one more than you’ of which we are very capable, we can get something down there!!
Liverfool up here? They arent great ……… we arent a bad team at home !!!
Man city also………..i think we can do areet on the run in me, I think anywhere in the top six is up for grabs (1 & 2 apart).
poolytoon
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Comment #23@ wor shearer
lol see what you did there. still annoying though with the challenge being as reckless as it was the law needs to be changed for me though
Sgt. Heagerty
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:19 PM
Comment #24Tough one for Besty he was playing well I think. At least as well as possible with so many players missing and being forced to the left wing so much. Get well soon Besty
Les Grossman
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Comment #25There are NO heros in level 7…
just a bunch of blokes with good eyesight or fookin binoculars
roshan MAGPIE
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:34 PM
Comment #26watching aston villa game on ESPN now
ParisToon
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:48 PM
Comment #27Harry Redknap not guilty! Gutted, just hope there is a bad reaction by his players on Saturday!
t00ntime
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Comment #28if the FA dont do anything to skertel or suarez warnock aint getting sh1t done to him… skertel cud of destroyed someones carreer with that challange and suarez was just dirty… after the whistle kicked him in the chest…
they both got yellow so the FA cant do anything… F**K off man… suarez needs 3 match ban and skertel needs 5/6 match ban… but no some poor guy from stoke gets sent off against sunderland when he only deserved a yellow… yet the FA dont take away his punishment…
the FA need to look at themselves and think about things… they need to be able to step in and say hang on a sec he needed a red (or a yellow) and then change it.
Also they should use a 3 strike system… if a ref makes a mistake with giving/not giving a red card/penalty (and if after seeing replay’s he wrongly tells the FA to look/not look at the incident ) he shud get a strike, 3 times and he is suspended for the season (every season everything gets reset) that way the refs will either think about it more or after the match atleast make the FA look at it.
so ref’s wont use the excuse… it was a big game (webb world cup final, de jongs challenge) it was massive for the premier league (webb rooney’s elbow man utd v wigan) etc
boater
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:50 PM
Comment #29Eastend toon – I think you have the number of wins right, but I imagine we will drop points in a couple of the ‘winnable’ games, and pick up a couple of surprise wins in the toughies, if this season is anything to go by. West Brom away will be tough and Liverpool at home too close too call, for e.g.
NUFCarter
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Comment #30Milan mandovic and Harry redknapp are found NOT GUILTY
Offkey
Feb 8, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Comment #31Robin – I said this the other day……Watch the tackle in slow motion. The fact is that Warnock dived at a ball that was not near him, seemingly intending to take both man and ball.
His studs are up and his foot is above the ball and at Taylor’s knee level. It looks like a ninja kick and he goes through Raylor. Are you making an exception because its in the box?
What if the ball was chest height and the fella does a ninja kick at his chest studs up…….that okay as well? what can you do? stand still? His tackle was a leg breaker.
Blatant red card in my opinion.
Offkey
Feb 8, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Comment #32I am confident about the run in with the players we have and those coming back. Like Boater I accept there will be a few surprises in store……..
But with NUFC you can never be sure. Although, I doubt I would be too disappointed with the season if with did have a prolonged dip in form.
Looking forward to Tottenham nervously…….Have a feeling Pardew might throw in a selection or tactical surprise…..but I wouldn’t be concerned i it was 4-4-2
eastend toon
Feb 8, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Comment #33agreed boater, how we’ve played against BB and villa and came away with the points probably shocked all of us, at times in both matches we looked terrible, only through steel-like determination and workmanship, and our fair share of luck to be fair, were we able to grab all 3 points in each of those games… now i wouldnt be surprised to see the team that turn up against spurs play like barca (or at least there abouts! ) and put in an amazing performance… its a given we generally play better against better opposition.
i’m hoping for 60points by the time the final whistle goes against wigan on the 28th april… anything more than that and europa dare i say is guaranteed
magpie6699
Feb 8, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Comment #34I cannot believe people describing both Warnock’s tackles as fair. I accept that the one on Leon Best was perfectly legal and it’s bad luck he got injured – but the one on Raylor was horrible horrible HORRIBLE!
Have the “fair tackle” lot actually seen it replayed and especially in slow-motion? Warnocks studs were showing and his leading foot was knee-high: if Ryan hadn’t managed to jump a bit and luckily get away with an impact injury to bone without an actual break, his knee would have been pointing in all directions and the ligaments would have been all like snapped rubber bands! We could easily be wondering if he’d ever play again. I’m not comparing it to Cabaye etc. – retaliation is never justified, however understandable. I will however compare it to the much less dangerous challenge by Huth on the Mackem which was upheld as a red- card challenge but was never likely to cause the same damage.
Level 7 Hero
Feb 8, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Comment #35@eastend toon
Final whistle against Wigan hope we will have 60 points?
We still have Man City at home and Everton away after man. The season finishes on the 13th May.
Level 7 Hero
Feb 8, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Comment #36@eastend toon
Areet just got what you meant. Ayyyye Man City and Everton would be bonus points like.
eastend toon
Feb 8, 2012 at 4:42 PM
Comment #37thats the one level 7 ;o)
SurefootedShola
Feb 8, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Comment #38Mali vs Ivory Coast at 19:00. Hoping to have Tiote on the first flight back to Tyneside, after the match….
ToonDownSouth
Feb 8, 2012 at 5:16 PM
Comment #39The decision to uphold Huths ban is absolute madness. The only contact was the player kicking Huth in the knee!
Crazy crazy crazy decision. The referee thought he saw something, which did not actually happen.
bills-son
Feb 8, 2012 at 5:28 PM
Comment #40JackButler // Feb 8, 2012 at 10:54 AM – Peter Beardsley was on TalkSport this morning talking about how Ashley is fully committed to the club and taking us forward, he said that the future for NUFC is very exciting. With the squad that we are building and the fact we seem to be able to find quality players for relatively small transfer fee’s plus the fact we have some class youngster coming through, hopefully the days of us struggling in the league are behind us.
I wonder if solano, MacToon and Jail for Ashley are going to call Beardsley a weird, ar$e licking, deluded, senile, moron for saying that Ashley is fully committed to taking the club forward?
Or … I wonder … are solano, MacToon and Jail for Ashley weird, deluded and senile for thinking he isn’t?
Answers on a postcard to The Toon, 5 Premier League, Newcastle 42 PTS.