Shola on course for early return

[Scottish Mag 3]

Shola Ameobi's hopes of playing in the Premiership again this season are growing after Glenn Roeder admitted for the first time the striker is ahead of schedule in his fight to recover his fitness.

 

But although he has suggested the 25-year-old could be in contention for a comeback as early as April, the Newcastle boss will put no pressure on a player who was expected to be sidelined until well into the summer months.

 

Having undergone a pioneering hip operation in the United States in November, Ameobi returned for a consultation with Dr Marc Philippon last week and has been told the progress he has made is highly encouraging.

 

With Michael Owen also determined to pull on a black-and-white shirt again before the end of this season, Roeder's striking options could be dramatically increased for the closing stages of the top-flight campaign.

 

But with the long-term health of both players his number one priority, Roeder is taking nothing for granted and will only seek to include the pair when it is clear their problems are well and truly behind them.

 

"Although Shola and Michael are the two longest-term absentees up there on my office wall, and I have a `J' (for June/July) and an `A' (for April) against their names (respectively), I could probably take the `J' away from Shola and put an `A' in there myself," said Roeder.

 

"But I'm not predicting anything. It's an educated guess that both players will more than likely be very close come the last few games of the season but we can only guess. You can't put an absolute date on it because if they don't make it, people will think they have had a setback.

 

"With the way Shola is feeling right now, where the target was June or July, maybe we should be changing that back to an `M' for May. We have had great news on him. I was so supportive of him when he was getting criticised because people didn't know that he was putting his career on the line.

 

"He was playing when other players would have said `Take me off'. I appreciated that and that's why I said `Enough is enough for you, Shola, you cannot do it any more, you have to go to America for surgery'. Now we have someone who is walking around the place again. He said to me last week `I had forgotten what a good hip should feel like, I had forgotten what it's like to have a proper hip'.

 

"He has been back to Colorado and Dr Philippon is delighted with the way the operation went and with the progress Shola has made since then."

 

Meanwhile, Nigel Pearson, Roeder's right-hand man at St James's Park, has been earmarked for a senior position in the new England Under-21s coaching team.

 

FA officials are hoping to appoint Stuart Pearce as Peter Taylor's successor and, should the former Newcastle defender take on the role, he has identified Pearson as the man he wants to assist him in the job. Emre's hopes of making his return from injury against Aston Villa this week have, though,been dashed. The Turkish international remains troubled by a calf problem that could sideline him for two more weeks.

[Asprilla 96]

 

 

Meanwhile, Nigel Pearson, Roeder's right-hand man at St James's Park, has been earmarked for a senior position in the new England Under-21s coaching team.

 

FA officials are hoping to appoint Stuart Pearce as Peter Taylor's successor and, should the former Newcastle defender take on the role, he has identified Pearson as the man he wants to assist him in the job. Emre's hopes of making his return from injury against Aston Villa this week have, though,been dashed. The Turkish international remains troubled by a calf problem that could sideline him for two more weeks.

 

[Gemmill 47001]

What's the bets we rush Shola back and end up injuring him again.

[geordieshandy 0]

What's the bets we rush Shola back and end up injuring him again.

 

That's a given really.

[Barney 0]

I always thought that Souness rushed players back too soon.

 

Roeder talks like he isn't going to do that, and Dyer has been proof of that. However, Duff and Ramage both suffered relapses of their injuries from playing too soon.

 

This season is probably a write off, unless something dramatic happens between now and April, and there is absolutely no need to rush either player back. It would be nice to see them both take part before the season ends, but a full pre-season of trainging and matches would be a big boost.

[Jimbo 175]

What's the bets we rush Shola back and end up injuring him again.

 

 

Every cloud has its silver lining I guess.

[Invicta_Toon 0]

so who do you drop to let the great white hope back in?

 

Dyer? Sibierski?

[Gemmill 47001]

If Shola is fit, then Sibierski shouldn't be getting a game. Dyer could (and should) play on the right ahead of Milner.

[smudger 0]

He shouldn't be rushed back really. I would write him off until next season. Roeder doesn't seem to me to rush players back

[Howaythetoon 0]

Good news, decent squad player.

[Shearergol 0]

Good news, decent squad player.

 

Agreed. He's got a very good scoring record under Roeder too.

[TheInspiration 1]

No doubt there will be people who just won't say he's anything but rubbish.

 

I think his goals to games record since the start of 2006 has been very good considering his injury.

[Mark 0]

I'd rather he was forced to retire tbh.

[Gejon 2]

Good squad player.

[Mark 0]

Fucking muppet tbh.

[MattM4 0]

What's the bets we rush Shola back and end up injuring him again.

... well fingers crossed anyway

[TheInspiration 1]

I've yet to have an acceptable reason why he's a load of rubbish. Since Roeder took over I believe he's scored at more than a goal every two games, including pre-season. This includes some important goals, and all with a hip-injury.

 

Obviously not as good as Sibierski with his six goals in thirty-odd appearances I guess.

[MattM4 0]

Obviously not as good as Sibierski

Nope.

[Guest Patrokles]

I quite like Shola, or at least am willing to give him a chance once he's fully fit, which apparently he hasn't been for a couple of years now. We'll see.

[gram 0]

I've yet to have an acceptable reason why he's a load of rubbish. Since Roeder took over I believe he's scored at more than a goal every two games, including pre-season. This includes some important goals, and all with a hip-injury.

 

Obviously not as good as Sibierski with his six goals in thirty-odd appearances I guess.

Shola isnt top class but he is very willing and the shit he gets from some morons in the Leazes is a throwback to the 70s and 80s. Its embarrassing really.

Decent squad player and did well under Roeder when fit (ish).

[TheInspiration 1]

Obviously not as good as Sibierski

Nope.

Thanks for explaining why.

[MattM4 0]

Obviously not as good as Sibierski

Nope.

Thanks for explaining why.

I'm not going to ruin my evening by talking about that pile of crap any longer.

 

The good news about this, is that Owen is due back around the same time, so Shola won't be getting much a of look in anyway being 4th in line when everyone is available. Martins and Owen up front could be great, as Martins has all the attributes of the "big man" striker, making up any height deficit with his mighty spring.

[sniffer 0]

Rush ameobi back.

 

 

Please...he might miss next season as well.

[TheInspiration 1]

The amount of abuse he gets is apalling.

 

And I'm not sure why. It's not his fault he's a starting striker - we know he's not good enough for that, but he's only done good things in the last year so we might as well leave it at that.

[sniffer 0]

Not sure why?

 

You have to be kidding me.