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[catmag 337]

Fresh injuries blow for Toon Sep 30 2005

By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle

 

Newcastle United plans for tomorrow's trip to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth have been disrupted after Scott Parker and Titus Bramble were hit by injuries in training yesterday.

 

Both were named in the squad to travel south, but significantly Souness placed Martin Brittain and Michael Chopra on standby in case there was any reaction after today's training session.

 

Souness is already without Emre and Nobby Solano, who were left behind on the treatment table when the United squad flew out of Newcastle airport for the South coast this afternoon.

 

Kieron Dyer is expected to be on the plane, but with his recent injury record Souness will not be able to give a sigh of relief until he sees his midfielder running out at Fratton Park tomorrow.

 

A fit Dyer would certainly give United a boost, as he seems to like the air down on the South coast - he scored at Portsmouth last season and made the goal for Craig Bellamy the season before.

 

And probably Dyer's best ever game for United came along the coast at Southampton, in that FA Cup victory a couple of seasons ago.

 

However no matter what happens to Dyer tomorrow because of his lack of games, Souness does not expect his midfielder to be in the England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with Austria and Poland.

 

"We have not spoken to Sven- Goran Eriksson and we do not think Kieron Dyer will be in any England squad," said Souness before today's final training session.

 

And I gather that United do not expect Scott Parker to get an England call, despite his excellent form in a black and white shirt.

 

Souness and United are taking reports that Pompey tried to get Robert made available for tomorrow with the proverbial pinch of salt.

 

There was talk that because Portsmouth signed Robert on loan before the new rule which stops loan players turning out against their original club was implemented in the summer that they tried to get the Frenchman in their team tomorrow.

 

But United and probably Pompey know they would be wasting their time making an approach to the Premier League and Robert will watch tomorrow's game from the sidelines.

 

Souness would love to pick up the three points tomorrow before the fortnight's break for the World Cup qualifiers, and he knows a lot depends on whether United can keep a clean sheet for three successive games in the Premiership for the first time since January 2003.

 

United have already picked up three shut-outs in their seven Premiership games in the current campaign, compared with just six in their complete 38-match programme last season.

 

No wonder Souness says: "We want more of the same as far as our defence is concerned.

 

"We know that if we can keep Portsmouth out we have players at the other end who can score goals."

 

Meanwhile Souness has admitted he "admires" Aldo Duscher, after being linked with Deportivo La Coruna's Argentinian midfielder, in Spain.

 

Said the United boss: "I am a fan of Duscher, but at the moment I am concentrating on getting the players we have already brought in on the pitch together.

 

"We are particularly disappointed that the thigh injury Nobby Solano had when he came back has not responded to treatment.

 

"It is a real blow, but hopefully he will be available for us after the international break."

 

So Parker and Bramle were "hit by (unspecific) injuries" and Souness has put a couple of the kids in the squad "in case there's any reaction" after the training where they picked up these injuries?

 

So are they injured or not, Alan? Will they be playing or not? What are the injuries they sustained? Or do you not actually have a clue but fancied waffling about Dyer and England instead?

[Geordiesned 0]

It now appears that Dyer will not feature either! nufc.com reports that he was spotted at the Silverlink last night watching "Goal!"

[Isegrim 9897]

It now appears that Dyer will not feature either! nufc.com reports that he was spotted at the Silverlink last night watching "Goal!"

41495[/snapback]

 

According to the Guardian, Owen is a doubt, too.

[Geordiesned 0]

It now appears that Dyer will not feature either! nufc.com reports that he was spotted at the Silverlink last night watching "Goal!"

41495[/snapback]

 

According to the Guardian, Owen is a doubt, too.

41499[/snapback]

 

Sweet baby Jesus and the orphans! Been told (although haven't seen myself) that it's reported in this morning's papers that Dyer could be out for another month! What a joke!!!

[The Mighty Hog 526]

Fuckin hell. Where do we make them train? A 1940's nazi concentration camp?

[Guest Sima]

Shhhh, you don't want to get slated by the rose tinted specs* brigade.

 

*On licence from Leazes Mag

Edited October 1, 2005 by Sima

[Bombadil 0]

According to the Guardian and the Times, Owen suffered a dead leg in training, which shouldn't prevent him from playing for England (who gives a shit?), but makes him a serious doubt for today. Dyer has apparently broken down again with another hamstring injury, what a joke.

Edited October 1, 2005 by Bombadil

[Fordy 1]

well at tleast there's the international break for 2 weeks now