Gabby Obertan returned to action for Newcastle last Saturday in the 1-0 win over a sorry QPR side in what was a plodding game at best, but the Frenchman seemed to have lost none of his speed or skill, as he ran at the QPR defense down the left wing and again looked like a decent player.
Gabby Obertan – it started with a nail in his toe
We have to think that Gabby stands an excellent chance of starting against his old club Manchester United tomorrow afternoon at Old Trafford, and the surprising thing he has revealed since the game is that he had not trained for about six weeks.
This is what he told the local press yesterday:
“It is quite often the case subs can turn a game. I didn’t create an assist or score but I think I made a difference.” “I haven’t trained for six weeks and even though I have not done much in that time I feel quite fit.”
“We have not played well for the last four games and I guess I am another player trying to get into the starting eleven.” “There is always a bit of extra motivation when you play against your old team.”
“It was the same for me against Bordeaux. We need the points so I will have to forget about going back.” “After what we did last season people have high expectations of us. The pressure is still on us.”
“We started Saturday’s game right and we played well overall.” “The goal came a bit late so it was a bit difficult for the fans but there was no anxiety among the players.”
And the former Bordeaux player has finally talked about what his time injury was all about – since it seems Obertan had a nail removed from his toe, but it became infected and the dried blood put pressure on his toenail, and hence the pain he has been feeling for a year.
This is how Gabby explained it:
“They took the nail off my toe. I had to wait for it to grow back.” “I picked up an infection last season against Stoke.” “The infection cleared but I had dried blood between the nail and my skin. When it grew back over it was just creating pressure.”
“I played for a year like that.” “I was having to go in the ice bath after every game and dip my toe in there. I wanted to have the operation in the summer, but I couldn’t wait any longer.”
It’s kind of unusual for a player to have an injury to his toe that keeps him out for six weeks, and he should probably have had the operation last summer in retrospect.
But we hope everything is now cleared up and there’s a good likelihood that Gabby will see a lot of playing time for Newcastle in the next couple of months, as the games will come thick and fast for the Magpies.
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6 comments so far
Indian Magpie
Dec 25, 2012 at 9:17 AM
Comment #1Merry Christmas. To all
JackButler
Dec 25, 2012 at 9:18 AM
Comment #2Haven’t been on for a while but I’ve been keeping a watching brief 🙂
Would like to wish all my fellow NUFC sufferer’s a very merry xmas and a great new year and here’s hoping that the purse string will finally be cut next month
spitfire_
Dec 25, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Comment #3Obertan had the same injury in the “toe” in the same time of last year.. what’s the odds?
q8igeordie
Dec 25, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Comment #4Although I do not celebrate Christmas … I wish all who do .. a merry Christmas
solz tim krul
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:15 AM
Comment #5guese he wil be an improved player and i really like his pace and skill. Guese tht wl b e end of spiderman
obatoyou
Dec 26, 2012 at 8:09 AM
Comment #6Merry Christmas, happy toes everyone!