NUFC rocked by twin injury blow

Jan 29 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United’s season took another disastrous turn for the worse last night as a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City was overshadowed by long term injuries to Joey Barton and Michael Owen.

Both players limped off at the City of Manchester Stadium, with Owen expected to be out of action for at least six weeks with an ankle injury, while Barton is facing an even longer spell on the sidelines following fears he has broken a bone in his foot, which could take 12 weeks to heal.

It was another terrible evening for the Magpies – watched by managing director Derek Llambias, and owner Mike Ashley (pictured left), at his first game since August – whose lack of success in the transfer market means they are facing up to a relegation battle with a squad which looks incapable of taking the strain.

There is no getting away from the fact United’s form is the sort which brings relegation. They have not won since December 21 and have taken just one point from the last 15 on offer.

They desperately need to haul themselves out of the slump, but little is going their way and injuries continue to mount up with Owen, Barton and Charles N’Zogbia joining the long list of walking wounded. Rarely has the picture looked as bleak as this. “Michael has cracked a bone in his foot and he’s on crutches,” said a clearly agitated Joe Kinnear.

“I’ve spoken to the doctor and he has told me that it’s going to be between six and eight weeks, which is another massive blow for us.

“To make matters worse, we think Joey Barton has broken the dreaded metatarsal, which will be between ten and 12 weeks.

“It’s unbelievable how much bad luck we’ve had. That’s the way it been going for us, week in, week out, day after day, these are the problems we have to cope with.

“I was disappointed with the way we

played in the first half because we didn’t create much, but at least we competed a lot better in the second half.

“The biggest problem is we have to constantly chop and change things, we’ve never had a settled side and we had to do that again tonight when Joey and Michael got injured.”

Despite the positive noises which have emanated from within St James’s Park regarding the recruitment of players, even a move for Toulouse full-back Albin Ebondo is in danger of collapsing after the French club raised the asking price for the 24-year-old.

Indeed, with Kinnear appearing to suggest last night that owner Mike Ashley was unable to put any significant money into the transfer budget, the chance of the three or four new players arriving he wanted at the start of the month appear remote to say the least.

Kinnear said: “We need to pick up some results, I know that. Fortunately other results have gone for us so we’re not adrift, we do have hope still. But we do need players, we do need help. There are more players in the treatment room than out on the pitch, it just goes on and on.

“Look at Tottenham, they are moaning about their squad but they are bidding £12m on this player and £14m on this one, I’d love to do it, but I can’t, I know that. This is a tough job, I knew that when I came here which is why nobody else had the b******* to do it.” Having slipped to a third successive defeat, the importance of Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland can not be under-estimated, not just because of the three points it offers, but also because of the psychological lift it will bring to a drained side.

But Kinnear will first hope the move for Ebondo can be revived before the weekend.

He added: “We agreed terms to bring Ebonde, but they (Toulouse) have moved the goalposts so we are still out there negotiating on the price.

“The credit crunch is killing us, Mike has lost a fortune in his own business and shares so he hasn’t got lots of money to put in.” Kinnear also insisted the club were still fighting to keep hold of goalkeeper Shay Given, despite the player’s desire to leave after 11 years of loyal service.

City’s manager Mark Hughes gave little away regarding his pursuit of the Irishman, although it is still thought the Republic of Ireland international, who did not travel to Manchester last night, will move to Eastlands before the close of the transfer window on Monday night.

“I have said we need an experienced keeper to complement the exceptionally talented young keepers we have,” said Hughes.