59-year-old Algeria coach Rabah Madjer has called up Islam Slimani for the Algerian squad for two (meaningless) friendlies against Tanzania and Iran.
The worry is that he will either train too hard and injure himself again or be played in one of the two friendlies and further aggravate his thigh strain, which is taking some time to heal.
That’s a concern because it’s happened too many in the past when a player goes away on International duty with only a slight injury and returns with the injury a lot worse.
But the Algerian coach Madjer is at least saying the right thing today.
Islam Slimani – in Algeria’s colors
Here’s what Madger has said as quoted in the Chronicle today:
“Islam trains normally, but if there is a risk, if he can not play, we will preserve it for his interest and the interest of his club.”
It seems the quote has come from Ben Dinnery on his Twitter account:
Rabah Madjer confirms Newcastle striker Slimani will not play against Tanzania or Iran if he is not 100 per cent fit. “Islam trains normally, but if there is a risk, if he can not play, we will preserve it for his interest and the interest of his club,” the #ALG coach said. #NUFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) March 20, 2018
We hope when Slimani does return to Newcastle from International duty he is fit to play against Huddersfield Town on March 31st.
But with him being away during the International break he will likely not start against the Terriers.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
85 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 1:08 PM
Comment #1Re. Rafa not playing players with an injury, I’m pretty sure he has done so many times the most recent being Jonjo who I believe had to have some sort of injection in his knees to play against Southampton.
I reckon that he should do the same with Slimani sometime in the 2nd half of the Hudders game, Can’t see any justification in starting him in the game!
RobLeenio
Mar 21, 2018 at 1:14 PM
Comment #2EGB – the recent match with Southampton did feature Shelvey playing with an injection, but Rafa came out and said after the game he wasn’t comfortable with it. I think the reason he allowed it was Shelvey was determined and there was a 3 week break coming up afterwards – I don’t think it’s routine, as it is with some managers and I think this is one reason why we have good injury stats this season.
hibbit
Mar 21, 2018 at 1:23 PM
Comment #3EGB-quote from Rafa earlier today in the Chronicle he makes it clear Slalimi is not going to just walk into the team
“If they are doing well, he has to be better than them. It’s not as if he will come and go straight into our team and make the difference.”
“The others are doing well, and he has to compete with them. It’s positive because we have more competition in one position.”
RobLeenio
Mar 21, 2018 at 1:31 PM
Comment #4I think today we’re halfway through this 3 week period with no match. Considering everyone was concerned, I think we’ve done alright.
No-one’s fallen out too much – squabbling, not vendetas
We’ve had plenty chat going on
Most importantly, Ed has been publishing some really good, intelligent posts for us to natter over.
Happy Hump Day, everyone.
c-dog
Mar 21, 2018 at 1:44 PM
Comment #5Should be fined if he comes back any worse.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 2:22 PM
Comment #6Hibbit
Whether he plays or not is probably irrelevant at the moment, what his signing may have done is given a kick up the backsides of our strikers.!!
Mag52
Mar 21, 2018 at 2:22 PM
Comment #7Didn’t Lascelles play the latter part of last season with an injury ?
The medical staff and physios must have been aware of it.
hibbit
Mar 21, 2018 at 2:29 PM
Comment #8Mag52
he did mate a double hernia
Jib
Mar 21, 2018 at 3:12 PM
Comment #9Jaap Stam sacked by Reading
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 3:28 PM
Comment #10Mag52
Yeah, that’s one in particular I was thinking off.
RobLeenio
Mar 21, 2018 at 3:39 PM
Comment #11Hmm, maybe more than we thought – Merino has played at various times and looked like he’s still feeling the effects of his back injury
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 3:57 PM
Comment #12Bus pass at the ready!! 😉
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 3:58 PM
Comment #13Gayle as well!
Ron Knee
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:00 PM
Comment #14“Boris Johnson says Moscow World Cup will be like Hitler hosting Olympics in 1936 …”
That should make England supporters feel even safer!
H.Houdini
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:18 PM
Comment #15We could just stop buying and borrowing crock’s
RobLeenio
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:26 PM
Comment #16To be fair, the Nazis put uniforms on all of their thugs so at least you could see them coming. They definitely wouldn’t have tolerated violence in the streets, unless it had been ordered. The Russian thugs may be state sponsored but they’ll be like rabid dogs hunting in packs. You wouldn’t get me out there for all the caviar in Kazakhstan
lesh
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:32 PM
Comment #17Jail
From previous thread….. I too read the Chris Waugh article which referred to the flight cost. I didn’t like to contradict Jib, our very own font of all knowledge
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Barnes, assuming he’s still de facto MD, who’s questioned the £15000. Such small mindedness from the guy, a lawyer by all accounts, who’s been put in to keep control of the club’s finances as Ashley doesn’t trust Charnley.
Ffs, watching the pennies as millions of pounds are at stake. But, that’s Ashley (yes Jib, it’s me being critical again) and the sooner he gets the hell out of it the better.
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:33 PM
Comment #18hibbit at #3
If Rafa is saying that Slimani has to compete in training with the other strikers then it would appear that he will not have enough time to stake a place in the team for the Huddersfield match.
Assuming that he will be flying straight home after the Algeria-Iran match, he can only start training with the team next Wednesday at the earliest. He will, at best, be cautious in training – to protect his recent thigh strain – so is unlikely to outperform Gayle, who will be fighting to keep his place.
So maybe we won’t see him on the field in the next home match. But as EGB said (at #6) his presence on the training ground is bound to have a positive effect on Gayle’s performance.
Ron Knee
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:35 PM
Comment #19Dele Alli has got nothing on this:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43472827
lesh
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:41 PM
Comment #20Ron Knee
So that useless oaf of a foreign secretary has likened the world cup to the 36 Olympics? That’s priceless coming from him. I’d imagine one or two of our fellow posters’d feel quite at home in a state he likens to the Nazi regime – as long as they show their true colours.
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:51 PM
Comment #21RobLeenio at #16
You don’t work for HM Diplomatic Service by any chance?
😛
RobLeenio
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:52 PM
Comment #22Lol Ron, I posted that link yesterday. Horrendous dive. Not sure whether to be appalled or amazed.
RobLeenio
Mar 21, 2018 at 4:56 PM
Comment #23Ha ha Pain, not sure I’d have a career there for long – although BoJo seems to be doing ok out of it….
lochinvar
Mar 21, 2018 at 5:05 PM
Comment #24Could be another first for Rafa.
What an inspirational leader.
Slimani goes on International duty and enjoys further warm weather training and physio.
Then it’s the first ever time an injured player has come back fit from International duty.
If Rafa drank it would be non-alcoholic Carlsberg.
Probably
Other soft drinks are available.
Jib
Mar 21, 2018 at 5:17 PM
Comment #25Johnson actually said Putin will use the WC
for propaganda purposes much like Hitler in 1936
Nothing much to argue with there
Online Guy
Mar 21, 2018 at 5:18 PM
Comment #26It’s been refreshing reading through today’s posts , apart from a little flak my way ..
Well done !
Keep that friendly thing going .
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 21, 2018 at 5:31 PM
Comment #27Jib
Just how does Putin intend to use a toilet for propaganda purposes?
Jib
Mar 21, 2018 at 5:36 PM
Comment #28😛
ronaldo aarons
Mar 21, 2018 at 5:48 PM
Comment #29Essex
How’s it going with that bus pass? Is it running a little late 😀
Shot Bru
Mar 21, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Comment #30I’m actually looking forward to attending the WC..Russia is a great country.
Fortunately I will be supporting the Socceroos so there will be no worries.
I would deffo think twice about going if I was a Pom in the current climate!
Online Guy
Mar 21, 2018 at 6:06 PM
Comment #31I wonder if Leicester City have any say as regards Slimani bieng risked in an international freindly ? He is still a Leicester player end of day.
I would not think that Newcastle hold sway when it comes to that decision, not being the parent club .
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 6:53 PM
Comment #32Ronaldo
Looks like Ed is running a reduced service today! 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 6:57 PM
Comment #33Apparently it was another MP who made the original Hitler comment, he was just agreeing with it.
Although I do believe that some questions in the commons are previously set up, so you never Know.
Mag :P
Mar 21, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Comment #34Is anyone else super happy with our backline and Dubravka?
Lejuene and Lascelles are great together and Dummett is extremely solid down his side. Yedlin is helpful in an attacking sense and Dubravka is very reliable.
Haven’t felt this way about our defence in years.
Online Guy
Mar 21, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Comment #35Essex..who mentioned Hitler ? Can’t find it .
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 7:03 PM
Comment #36Shot-Bru I don’t think they’ll make any exceptions to English speaking supporters no matter who they support.
Be very careful and aware out there.
I’m with Rob on this one, in fact I’m hoping that there is a massive boycott of countries for this event.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 21, 2018 at 7:06 PM
Comment #37On Line
I understood it was mentioned in parliament, but I didn’t watch the debate so perhaps it wasn’t, there was certainly a reference to to the 1936 Olympics so it may just have been an implied mention of him.
jane
Mar 21, 2018 at 7:13 PM
Comment #38NEWCASTLE UNITED U23 VS. STOKE CITY U23 (league match)
https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/21/england/premier-league-2-division-two/newcastle-united-u23/stoke-city-u23/2547391/?ICID=PL_MS_10
Jib
Mar 21, 2018 at 7:17 PM
Comment #39Australia are playing
Kazan , Samara , Sochi
well away from the
idiots in Moscow
Lovelyweather in the steppelands in June
and three truly majestic cities
A Pain in the Blog
Mar 21, 2018 at 7:20 PM
Comment #40Mag:P at #34
I think you hit the nail on the head. Top class keeper and three top class defenders and Yedlin. I like the lad. He puts in a shift and helps Ritchie out a lot in attack. But most of the oppositions’ attacks come down their left – past Yedlin.
Another Dummit on the right would consolidate our defence even more. As a counter-attacking team we rely on the pace of the likes of Yedlin – but he is the weak link in our defence nonetheless.