Rafa Benitez delivered some good news on the Newcastle injury front today and it was better than the news reported late last night – especially about Vurnon Anita
Rafa says Vurnon has a problem with his ankle, but it could be six weeks – more or less.
And he also said the Dwight Gayle was much better than expected and that Mitrovic now seems OK and the Serbian has even been joking about playing tomorrow night.
Dwight Gayle – much better than expected
Isaac Hayden could play, but he will not be risked with his groin injury, but it now seems very slight.
Here’s what Rafa said today in his press conference on the Newcastle injuries:
“We had three problems, Isaac Hayden is doing well, hopefully not serious.”
“Vurnon Anita has a problem with his ankle could be six weeks, more or less.” “Dwight Gayle is much better than expected.”
“No timeframe, he (Dwight) will be assessed every game.” “It’s too early.” “Every day we will see how he is.”
“We will see with Gayle, we didn’t know.” “The player has already started the treatment and we will see how he gets on.”
“Hayden can play if we want to push, but we will not push him.”
“We can take the stitches out of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s knee, he is doing well and we will see how he is progressing.”
“He was joking about playing tomorrow, but we will have to wait.”
“To lose two strikers is not good for anyone, that’s not good for Newcastle United.”
“But signing a player like Daryl Murphy with experience of the Championship is paying dividends now.”
That’s a positive assessment on the injury front from the manager and it’s better news about Anita, although we’ll still have to wait and see.
But even if Anita is out for a full two months he will still be able to play in quite a few games for us at the end of the season.
From March 17th we have 9 Championship games still to play.
Better news from Rafa today.
59 comments so far
Jib
Jan 17, 2017 at 1:58 PM
Comment #1R.I.P.
Gene Cernan (82) – last man to have walked on the moon.
giimps
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:09 PM
Comment #241 years ago, i wonder why nobody has been back?
mad-serb
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:10 PM
Comment #3I can sort of see Mitro banging on Rafa´s door saying he is ready to play while pulling his stitches out. Guess Rafa was confused as he thought Mitro was joking, but knowing him he was probably dead serious 🙂
Glad Rafa addressed the transfer issue to calm the Geordie faithful otherwise he might be not so keen to visit SJP tomorrow.
Rafa also seemed quite confident that he still has good target which he will be able to get in the window, so I guess we will just have to wait a little longer to see who they are.
Novocastrian66
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:11 PM
Comment #4Mike Ashley took control of the space programme.
giimps
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:14 PM
Comment #5Typical of Mitro wanting to play tomorrow with stitches in his leg, he will never be risked this early but Murphy can and will do the biz (Imho)
Pity Sterry and Sameobi cant play tomorrow, it would have been a decent littlerun outfor them, my Rafa bingo for what its worth
Elliot
Yedlin Hanley Clark Dummet
Colback, Shelvey
Lazar perezGouffy
Murphy
beermonkey
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:25 PM
Comment #6Any1 seen the under 21 l8ly
Last I heard Yasin Ben El-Mhann was doing well
Wondered if he might be involved tomoz
Jib
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:44 PM
Comment #7Some of the more highly strung posters looking a bit foolish now after Rafa’s words of reassurance.
The one that tickled me the most was Jail saying he could tell Rafa had a fall out with Ashley the way he walked back to the dressing roooms at Brentford.
Ha ha ha
Oh my aching sides
😀
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Comment #8Beermonkey, he was left out of the U23 side last night, so expect him to be on the bench at least. He’s been getting great reports so I’m dying to see if he’s ready to step up for cup games at least. I love to see young exciting players make the step up, which is why I’m such a big fan of Arma and Roberts etc. Watching them progress through the Academy and U23’s and finally making it is such a boost for the club. Investing now is a great idea and one I’m with Rafa and Ashley 100%. Saves money and makes money. Would be great to see players coming through they they have at Southampton, but minus the sell on bit!
beermonkey
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:57 PM
Comment #9Bobby
Cheers for the info we got him from lewes which is about 7 miles from me never seen him play but I know a few who have and say he is class
Some on here had said he was doing well
Lets hope we see him
Jail for Ashley
Jan 17, 2017 at 2:58 PM
Comment #10Jib,
What utter bollix for a change, not only misinformation you keep spouting but now lies, I just said Rafa didn’t look very happy as he walked across the pitch.
lochinvar
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:00 PM
Comment #11giimps@2…walking on the moon
perhaps Neil Moxley could go …..after all he’s got nothing better to do
Ron Knee
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:04 PM
Comment #12‘When asked if he still had the final say on transfers, Benitez said: “It doesn’t change anything. It’s a tricky question.
‘“The final say is something simple to say, what I need is to have the list of players we want to sign. It’s not a problem.’
Jail for Ashley
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:10 PM
Comment #13Nothing in the Evening Standard on Townsend again but a big article on how Allardyce doesn’t bother watching players he buys live anymore, just watches videos.
mad-serb
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:14 PM
Comment #14Lochinvar
I just had a pop at him on twitter. Lets see if he responds 🙂
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:16 PM
Comment #15It’s a shame to see all these astronauts passing on. I remember the moon landings like it was yesterday and freely admit that, yes, I wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger. That and a footballer, a surgeon… the usual dreams. 🙂 When I watch these was the moon landings a hoax things it really disappoints me. If it was, I was proper mugged off because I watched every bit that was televised. I refuse to believe they were a hoax, despite some of the evidence being strong. I simply don’t want to believe it. I watched one recently where NASA was discussing how they were trying to find a way to get past the Van Allen Belts of radiation to get a man to Mars. When he was asked how it was done on the moon landings he couldn’t answer it and my heart slumped. I hope I haven’t been mugged off all these years… 🙂
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:21 PM
Comment #16Lewes? I thought I travelled far to watch the lads when I came up from Aldershot when I was a squaddie but you beat that by miles Beermonkey. Respect matey. How often do you manage to get up just out of curiosity? However often it is it’s a great show of loyalty my friend. Away games in London must be a lot easier! 🙂
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:29 PM
Comment #17Pleased to see the horror story has, been put to bed. If we lost Rafa it would be a self inflicted mortal wound. I thought it couldn’t be true, but with Ashley there’s always that chance after all. His popularity now is as high as it’s ever been according to the Chronically survey. Maybe popularity is too strong a word, but his ratings is high, let’s put it that way. Please keep it like that. We’re moving in the right direction, don’t rock the boat. You might even be welcome at home games at this rate! 🙂
JamesToon
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:35 PM
Comment #18Would like to see lazaar tomorrow night
lesh
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:49 PM
Comment #19Did I see somewhere that Ashley’d be at the match tomorrow night? If so, I’m sure he see just how much the fans think of Rafa. And, if Ashley behaves himself between now and then, fans might just show their (positive?) appreciation of him too. It’s not the time to be peeing him off – we know how huffy he gets!
barkel
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:51 PM
Comment #20I would expect Tiote & Haidara to start tomorrow and most likely Sels getting the start ahead of Elliot.
Sels
Yeds Hanley Clark Haidara
Tiote Colback
Ritchie Perez Lazaar
Murph
Belfast
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:51 PM
Comment #21Let’s be honest Jib even if it did happen he isn’t going to publicly admit he had a disagreement with the owner is he ??
That would be pouring petrol on the fire.
Ron Knee
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:56 PM
Comment #22If the story was a fabrication, why didn’t Rafa say it was nonsense? No truth to it; etc?
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 3:58 PM
Comment #23James, I can see you getting your wish tomorrow. We are down to the bare bones and we have another two home games in a week. Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday. Hope my back’s up for that. 🙂 We need to win all three so if not tomorrow you can chalk him in for Saturday.
Two home league games gives us a chance to pull away. Brighton are without Dunk again, after his tenth yellow card and they don’t look great without him at the back. He’s a big player for them in more ways than one. They’re looking a bit jaded too. As much as I’d love to see Brighton promoted if only for Hoots, they can willingly have second place behind us.
Rafa bingo’s gonna be fun this week. Be nice if one of the kids can come good tomorrow as well.
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:06 PM
Comment #24Ron, he did say nothing’s changed mate, and that’s fair enough for me. He’s never one for elaborating things and saying nothing’s changed means what it says I reckon. He’s still in charge of transfers, why would he say more than that? Let’s be honest, that story had no source and no quotes. It was clearly speculation – like all these players we’re supposed to be signing. Rafa’s happy so I’m happy.
Ron Knee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:07 PM
Comment #25Atsu in action:-
http://sports17.sportlemon.space/?watch=Y52imJmsY6KZq2OdmKqdmJmjY21obGRtY6itpJljqKOYla0=
Ron Knee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:09 PM
Comment #26Bobby
I’m happy too, but if there’d been no truth in it, why didn’t he say so?
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:10 PM
Comment #27Ron, my sky plus is advising me not to visit that site, saying it can’t guarantee against nasties. Is that normal?
hibbit
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:11 PM
Comment #28I smell Keith Bishops smelly paws all over this
Ron got to admit I expected a stronger rebuff of the story thought Rafa seemed just a bit sheepish
Ron Knee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:12 PM
Comment #29Bobby
I trust in my anti-virus. Maybe it’s misplaced though!
Moonraker15
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:14 PM
Comment #30The longer Rafa is our manager and the more I hear him speak makes me more sure how lucky we are to have him at Newcastle. He knows exactly how to play the press and how to downgrade a story. He must have known the hostile press were muckraking but he played it like a poker player. It is obvious that the manager/ coach never has the final say on players but he must be involved in the selection process. It is very naive to think the coach has an open cheque book!
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:14 PM
Comment #31Ron, imo opinion he did. He said he’s still in charge of transfers and nothing’s changed. He called it a cheeky question too, so I don’t think he’s even given it much thought. Nothing g’s changed. He’s still the gaffer. He probably thought there was nothing more to say on a story that was purely speculation. Charnley would’ve told him if there was anything in it, they get on well.
Ron Knee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:17 PM
Comment #32Bobby
‘Cheeky’ was changed to ‘tricky’! Anyway, we can watch the complete press conference on NUFCTV and judge for ourselves. Coming soon, apparently.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:18 PM
Comment #33I’d like to know why the three loanee’s were allowed to become cup tied!!
Reposting this just cos I want too from last night
Jib
I agree that there seems to be to much paranoia just because Ashley decides to attend a game for the club he owns.
But if the doom sayers are correct in their looking for bogeymen scenarios, could it be that he thinks that failure to get promotion from the position we are in is highly unlikely and he may just want to reassert his alpha wolf status.
I don’t think that is the case but just thought I’d chuck that thought into the arena.
From that list you mentioned I was already minded to select Elliot for my bingo team.
Bobby
I organised a UFO conference some years back with Marcus Allen as one of the speakers, he was talking about the faked moon landings and it was pretty convincing.
I’d like to think they really happened but I’m very skeptical about them.
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:22 PM
Comment #34Moonraker, you’re right. That’s why Charnley’s there after all. They get a list of players, Rafa says who he wants and Charnley goes get them. That’s how I read the situation anyway. That’s how Rafa explained it roughly in the summer. He says nowt’s changed. Fine by me.
For those unsatisfied with the BBC radio Newcastle commentary, which clearly needs to improve, and unable to attend the game for whatever reason, the match is on Talksport 2 tomorrow night. I think that’s available worldwide? Can anybody confirm or deny that? You’ll find it online if you’re abroad.
U.S Magpie
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:23 PM
Comment #35Come on Sheffield Wednesday, your into the top six. Lets get that win on Friday and help out the Northern region of the country.
U.S Magpie
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:23 PM
Comment #36Come on Sheffield Wednesday, your into the top six. Lets get that win on Friday and help out the Northern region of the country.
Ron Knee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:29 PM
Comment #37hibbit
His press conference is ‘coming soon’!
Bobbybee
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:30 PM
Comment #38Bill, cheers for that. The arguments are convincing sadly, but like you I hope it happened. There was a rumour that they did say ‘if you can’ t make it, fake it’ and some of the photographs are suspect. The one where it shows the same photo allegedly miles apart but clearly the same picture is damning, as is getting through the Van Allen Belts. Would they have lived this long had they been subject to so much pure radiation? Recently they showed some photos from the latest orbiter, which alleges to show the buggy etc in situ. Either that too is faked, or they’re up there. Will we ever know for fact?
WWSBRD
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:31 PM
Comment #39People always were quick to dismiss anything bad papers wrote about Ashley though tbh I thought that was behind us
hibbit
Jan 17, 2017 at 4:36 PM
Comment #40Looking forward to it Ron