Joe Kinnear might not be back at NUFC until Anfield match

Mar 27 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

JOE Kinnear may not be able take charge of the Newcastle United team until the trip to Liverpool on May 2 as he continues his recovery from a triple heart bypass operation.

Kinnear will have to undergo rigorous tests on April 6 to determine whether he is strong enough to come back to United’s training ground before the trip to Stoke City on April 11, and it is far from certain when he will be given the all-clear to return to work full time.

The 62-year-old is desperate to get back to work as quickly as possible, but even if he passes those tests his comeback will have to be a gradual one.

Kinnear has been as alarmed as anyone by the Magpies’ slide into the relegation zone, but there has been little the former Republic of Ireland international can do other than offer advice to beleaguered caretaker manager Chris Hughton.

Although Newcastle have won just one of the seven games in which Hughton has been in charge of the team this season, the Magpies’ hierarchy have resisted the temptation to appoint another manager in Kinnear’s absence. That is a decision which has attracted criticism from fans who believe the club lacks strong leadership in the dressing room at the time they need it most.

However, as keen as owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias are for Kinnear to take control of the side again, they cannot, and will not, rush him because of the continuing concern about his health.

As a result, it is looking increasingly likely that Kinnear’s involvement will be confined to the training ground and pre-match team talks rather than actual direction from the dug-out, at least until the trip to Anfield.

“Joe is desperate to come back, but we have to be sensible with him,” said Llambias.