Rafa Benitez has just completed his press conference for the Championship game against Aston Villa at St. James’ Park on Monday night and some disappointing news on Isaac Hayden, who has been ruled out for 4 weeks after having an ankle operation.
His ankle has been troubling him for some time now and it’s a chronic injury – so it’s good he had the surgery, but we will miss him in the side.
But the good news on the injury front is that Vurnon Anita has started to train again – so that’s very good.
Rafa Benitez at his press conference
Some of Rafa’s comments are now being reported on the Newcastle United Twitter account and on Chronicle Live.
Here are some of Rafa’s comments in no particular order:
“We have a lot of players coming back.’ “Gayle has been training and Anita has been training today, so we have more or less everybody fit.”
“Some people think if you spend money you will do well.” “For me it has proved how difficult the Championship is.”
“It’s easier for a team who has been in the top six last season in the Championship than a team that just came down.”
“We are talking about a club (Villa) that has done well in their history.” “They have good players and an experienced manager.”
“I know Arsene very well. He’s a great manager and great person. He will do well because he has experience.”
Here’s Lee Ryder’s tweet on the news about Isaac Hayden.
INJURY NEWS: Isaac Hayden ruled out for 4 weeks after an ankle operation. Hayden had played through pain barrier in recent weeks. #nufc
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) February 17, 2017
Comments welcome.
20 comments so far
G
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:24 PM
Comment #1It’s a shame about Hayden, but Colback and Shelvey together seems to give Shelvey more time to do his thing whilst Colback takes care of the nuts and bolts work. Hopefully no silly bookings for him on Monday. People have suggested playing Mbemba in midfield, not as crazy a suggestion as it sounds I think.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:25 PM
Comment #2What’s Arsene got to do with the price of bacon?
WWSBRD
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:31 PM
Comment #3Injuries are starting to creep in…could it be this is why Rafa wanted players in during Jan?
Is Mbemba actually decent at CDM? I know he played there in the ACoN but lets face it the quality there isnt amazing
LGFUAD21
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:38 PM
Comment #43WWSBRD
Oh yeah. a handful of players are injured and its crisis mode.
We have 3 players out. What have you been smoking? or rather not been smoking to be so melodramatic
WWSBRD
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:39 PM
Comment #5LGFUAD
Who said crisis exactly?
Jib
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:40 PM
Comment #6Jail for Ashley
What’s Arsene got to do with the price of bacon?
Maybe a journo asked for Rafa’s opinion on him – doh !
You really are a dope !
Ha ha ha
😀
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:46 PM
Comment #7Well that simplifies the bingo selections.
Jail did you manage to collate the scores so far?
Jail for Ashley
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:52 PM
Comment #8Jibberish,
It’s obvious you’ve got some form of autism so we have to make exception for you but Arsene Wenger has got absolutely nothing to do with the article or the difficulty of relegated clubs getting promoted straight away. Simplified for you.
lesh
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:54 PM
Comment #9Jib
I think we can take the reference to Wenger as a typo, don’t you?
Jib
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:54 PM
Comment #10Last line of the article – thicko
Here are some of Rafa’s comments in no particular order:
Jail for Ashley
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:55 PM
Comment #11EGB,
Not yet, only home a few days and then only for a week but will at least do the QPR tonight, definitely not bothering with Oxford, I’ll have to do Derby and Norwich before I leave on Tuesday.
Jib
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:56 PM
Comment #12What could Arsene be a typo for ?
Jib
Feb 17, 2017 at 1:57 PM
Comment #13Lesh – thicko was directed at the spiteful Mr jail not you sir
Jib
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:01 PM
Comment #14Lee Ryder ?@lee_ryder 49m49 minutes ago
Rafa on Wenger criticism: “I know Arsene very well. He’s a great manager and great person. He will do well because he has experience.”
WWSBRD
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:02 PM
Comment #15Jail
Wenger and his future is the news of football atm so he probably was asked about his thoughts on it, thats the trouble with having a world class manager mate their opinion matters haha
Agree not entirely sure why he was asked about it considering how little it has to do with us or him but reporters love quotes
Jail for Ashley
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Comment #16Spiteful. Ha ha ha,
Jail for Ashley
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:07 PM
Comment #17WW…,
I’m thick as mince because I never read Ed’s full article.
WWSBRD
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:13 PM
Comment #18Jail
U and me both then mate, least ur not high/not high because u think injuries are a bad thing am alone in that mad world
Jib
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:16 PM
Comment #19I would say someone who makes a bitchy , sarky comment on an article he then admits he hasn’t read fully is the epitome of a dope.
Mag52
Feb 17, 2017 at 2:58 PM
Comment #20Sorry to hear about the latest test results Ed.
Catch it early, as it appears that you have, and the experts will do the rest.
Very best wishes for a successful outcome.