Fab Flournoy sidelined after hernia operation
Jul 22 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
NEWCASTLE Eagles player-coach Fab Flournoy faces up to a month on the sidelines after surgery on a long-standing hernia problem.
Flournoy went under the knife on Tuesday in a bid to rid himself of a groin injury that he played through for the majority of last season.
And while he has been ordered to rest for a minimum of a fortnight, Flournoy fully expects to be firing on all cylinders by the start of the BBL season in September.
Eagles managing director Paul Blake said the timing of the operation made sense for Flournoy, who remains a key member of the playing staff as well as the driving force behind the club. “Fab had a long-standing injury which was giving him a bit of trouble and he went to see a consultant who recommended an operation as soon as possible,” he said.
“It is a groin injury that is fairly long-standing and this was a good time for him to go for treatment with more than a month to go before the start of the season.”
Flournoy is well-known for his high pain threshold. He suffered a broken finger while training last season but returned to action in less than a month, and Blake believes he will comfortably make it back in time for the start of the season.
“He’s been told that it will be two to four weeks of rehab, but knowing Fab it will be at the shorter end of that timescale,” he said.
“He will be back for the end of August, when pre-season training begins.”
Meanwhile, the Eagles will begin signing and re-signing players over the next fortnight as their pre-season preparations move up a notch.
BBL rivals Plymouth and Chester have moved quickly to snap up players, but the Eagles have yet to bring in anyone. Flournoy is currently working with assistant Dave Forrester to identify the core of the team that he wants to defend the Eagles’ BBL crown, but knows big decisions are required over the future of the likes of Drew Sullivan, Joe Chapman, Reggie Jackson and Lynard Stewart.
“Fab has been given his budget now and I hope that there will be some decisions over the next couple of weeks,” Blake said.
“We are aware that the season is getting closer but there is a lot to be said for leaving the recruiting until later in the summer when there is plenty of value to be had.”
The Eagles MD also said that discussions about a move to Northumbria University’s new indoor facility are “ongoing” but he is hopeful of announcing a decision on next season’s venue soon.
