Kevin Keegan is set to welcome Oba Martins into his squad for the first time with the Nigerian having now fully recovered from a calf injury picked up at the African Cup of Nations.
Oba Martins – in training at Little Benton today
However, the bad news on the injury front today for Newcastle fans is that both Emre (calf) and Mark Viduka (calf) definitely miss out on the game tomorrow, as their injuries are still not fully healed. It’s certainly taking them both a long time to come back, unfortunately.
It’s a big disappointment that both of them are unavailable again this week, as both players could do a job for Newcastle United tomorrow.
Since Viduka is out and Alan Smith continued to be ineffectual up front, we’d like to see 19 year old Andy Carroll given a start tomorrow. We’d like it, but we cannot see Kevin doing that, and he is again more than likely to start Owen and Smith.
Although there has also to be the possibility of starting Owen and Martins up front together. That may also be a good combination to try but anything but Alan again starting up front. We’re not sure if Kevin is like Big Sam, who always liked a small man alongside a bigger striker up front.
Stephen Carr is still sidelined with another of his hamstring injuries, but the excellent news is that center back Peter Ramage is ready to return to training next week, after more than six months out with his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage.
That’s great news for Peter, and with the defense in all sorts of trouble recently, it will be interesting to see if Peter can push himself into the first team before the end of the season. Peter’s contract runs out in June so he’ll be more than keen to show manager Keegan what he can do. But it’s great to see the boy back in training again.
Kevin’s team selection will again be revealing tomorrow, and we’ll just have wait and to see what team he comes out with. We’ll also have our Newcastle Blackburn match preview later today.
Comments very welcome.
15 comments so far
cooldj
Feb 29, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Comment #1🙂 lol leo.
Stamford Toon
Feb 29, 2008 at 6:13 PM
Comment #2I noticed KK made no comment about Enrique when asked directly about hm on the club website. Looks like he is going to ignore the lad yet again. He has to be as good as any player that we have for lb and certainly has a sweet left foot. To me JE is too good to be ignored.
Carr is shite
Feb 29, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Comment #3Diatta is here in newcastle for trial. Ed, is he any good? Do you think he can fit into our team to shore up our defence?
Ross
Feb 29, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Comment #4no wonder we’re not winning games,
someone has to tell the lads at training we play football, not rugby.
Mishael
Feb 29, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #5I am Newcastle fan, kk must not leave on the bench if he want us to win because he is a world class player even better than owen of these days.
Steeley
Feb 29, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Comment #6Ed, I’d worry…SERIOUSLY worry, if KK decided he always wants a big man/small man combo. When you’re in the dire straits were in right now, to be able to have Martins and Owen on the pitch together should be a blessing for any manager (with the exception of Big Fat Sam who was too f’ing stupid to see the advantages!!). FSA always wanted a big man up front to be able to take down the long ball, however, that’s not KK’s style, so I fully expect to see both Owen and Martins on together tomorrow.
Saying that, as Martins has been out injured I wouldnt be averse to seeing Carroll start with Owen, and then bringing Martins on a little later. If Smith gets anywhere near the 16 let alone the 11 (same goes for Barton!) then I’ll be worried. They have both been utter tosh in our last several games and need a kick up the @rse….I think being left out of the squad would do that.
However, I dont think KK is ruthless enough (everybody’s best mate, bla bla bla) to drop people from the squad. I might be made to eat my words though……I hope so in this case!
scott9
Feb 29, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Comment #7seen as emre and viduka are out this would be my team.
given
beye faye taylor enrique
milner geremi butt nzogbia
martins owen
u could maybe put nzogbia in the middle with geremi and duff on the left but i just think that is a bit risky but with the goals we have been leaking butt and geremi will give that protection to the back four
Graham
Feb 29, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Comment #8Does anybody think that it might just all come together at some point and theres a team out there who is gonna get a hiding?
We are not gonna be world beaters with this squad but if Keegan plays the right team (and that means putting a left back in a left backs position, putting Zog at inside left next to Barton and either Carroll (1st choice) or Viduka (2nd and fat) next to either Owen or Martins with the other on the bench) ive a funny feeling that someone is in for a kicking.
Or is it the fact ive been drinking Stella since 4pm?
Geordie Joe
Feb 29, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Comment #9ed where is little benton. Do you not mean long benton.
canmag
Feb 29, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Comment #10team to play blackburn
harper
beye faye taylor edgar
milner geremi zoggie duff
owen martins
bench
forster cacapa enrique barton carroll
think this team could do the job
any body agree
Rich
Feb 29, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Comment #11Geordie Joe, he means Little Benton, south east of the Metro station, Longbenton is north of the metro. Cheers.
Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT
Feb 29, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Comment #12hahaha cooldj u have it today for sure, ive been out all day
what is obafemi doing with the ball in his hand, is he confused?
blitzor
Feb 29, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Comment #13cant wait to see oba back in the team. think he is a player we have mised the last couple of games imo.
hanzemre
Mar 1, 2008 at 7:42 AM
Comment #14yeah surely we long for goals to win as many coming games ASAP for our safety. Martins & Owen are up to this occasion with Carroll on the sub bench. No matter how Martins scores even using his hands that’s what we want him to help us out of this bad run. Geremi/N’Zogbia could score goals from setpieces. Bet Faye gets the end of setpieces again in this game.
Nick Dryden
Mar 1, 2008 at 8:04 AM
Comment #15Ed – certai nly wouldn’t wish his injuy upon him, but Ramage isn’t called damage for nothing!
Mediocre championship player at best. Our star turn ,defender wise has to be EDGAR. It’s criminal we are wasting his talent. What more does he have to do!! Plays against man u, scores a goal and keeps Ronaldo quiet for 90 mins.
Would love to see Smith, Barton, Butt, Duff, Taylor dropped for Martins, Emre, Enrique, Edgar and Lua Lua.