Newcastle refuse to hasten Owen’s return

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Newcastle refuse to hasten Owen’s return

 

There have been too many absences, too many setbacks and too many disappointments for Newcastle United to gamble on Michael Owen’s health. As the England striker prepares for likely surgery on the groin injury that will rule him out of next month’s European Championship qualifying fixtures against Estonia and Russia, his club will exercise caution.

 

Owen has sustained a tear to his abductor muscle and suspects that a double hernia will also require correction. He will consult Ulrike Muschaweck, the renowned German surgeon, in Munich today and is expected to undergo an operation tomorrow.

 

Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, predicted that the 27-year-old will be out until the club’s home match against Tottenham Hotspur on October 22 at the “very, very earliest.”

 

There have long been suspicions that Owen returned too early from a broken metatarsal before the World Cup finals last summer, during which he severely damaged his anterior cruciate ligament, which caused him to miss the majority of last season. That mistake will not be repeated. “Not now – he’s more sensible than that and knows that the consequences of coming back too early are so grave if you get reinjured,” Allardyce said. “You can extend the period of recovery so that it’s twice as long.

 

“If our medical staff don’t consider he is capable at that particular time via a specialist report and scan we will be patient and make sure he – and any player – is fully recovered before we stick him back into the fray.”

 

Psychologically, Allardyce has no concerns regarding Owen’s latest difficulty. “Michael has had that many disappointments that he manages it very, very well,” he said. “He’s strong mentally and he deals with it and gets back to playing as soon as he possibly can.”

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Quite right too.

[NJS 4447]

All we can ask is that medical decisions are based on "Newcastle player" rather than "England Player". I'm not convinced thats been the case up to now.

[Guest alex]

All we can ask is that medical decisions are based on "Newcastle player" rather than "England Player". I'm not convinced thats been the case up to now.

I agree although it's hard to blame him for wanting to play in the last World Cup. I think that was a definite case of him putting country first. I can't imagine anyone would have behaved differently under the circumstances though.

[luckyluke 2]

All we can ask is that medical decisions are based on "Newcastle player" rather than "England Player". I'm not convinced thats been the case up to now.

I agree although it's hard to blame him for wanting to play in the last World Cup. I think that was a definite case of him putting country first. I can't imagine anyone would have behaved differently under the circumstances though.

 

True, and I doubt many of us gave a damn about how rushing Rooney back would affect Man Utd.