NEWCASTLE Eagles have been dealt a huge blow after star point guard Trey Moore was ruled out for the rest of the regular season with a broken metatarsal.
Moore was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over Guildford Heat and the Eagles’ worst fears were realised yesterday when doctors ruled him out for a minimum of three weeks.
That means he will play no part in the gruelling BBL title run-in, which resumes tomorrow with a trip to MK Lions for the second-placed Eagles and sees them squeeze in five more games in ten days.
Overhauling leaders Mersey Tigers is a much more testing task without Moore, who has been their leading player all season and has a wealth of experience playing in the business end of the season.
The Eagles are considering bringing in a replacement but managing director Paul Blake admits it will be tough to integrate a new player into their system.
“This is a bitter blow for us,” he admitted. “He didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter on Sunday and we knew there was something wrong.
“We’re just getting our heads around it at the moment but the most generous estimate is between three and six weeks for him to come back. I’d be surprised if he can play again this season, though. His foot is in a splint and we’re going to have to consider looking at bringing someone else in if the league will allow us.
“There are strict rules on registering and de-registering players and of course it will be tough to bring someone else in and expect them to settle straight away.” The Eagles will probably turn to Reggie Jackson to take over point guard duties for the remaining fixtures but he too has fitness worries.
His big toe is in a splint after taking a knock over the weekend but he expects to play against the Lions on Wednesday.
That game is a must-win for the Eagles, who must now be second favourites in the battle for the BBL title.
“Of course this makes this much tougher for us. Trey is a key player,” Blake admitted. To lose Joe (Chapman), to lose Fab for the time we did and now Trey – I’ve never known a season like it.
“We’ll keep fighting but it probably opens the door a little bit for Sheffield, who walloped Glasgow Rocks last Sunday and still have the Mersey Tigers to play.
“Our priority now is to win the next three games and put as much pressure on the Tigers as we possibly can.
“That is all we can do and if we do that then we’re in with a realistic shout.”
