Newcastle United praying Sebastien Bassong returns

Mar 30 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

IT speaks volumes for the progress he has made that less than 12 months after arriving at Newcastle United in the hope of winning a professional contract, that the Magpies are sweating on the fitness of Sebastien Bassong ahead of a potentially crucial period in the club’s history.

The French under-21 international arrived last summer on trial and has gone on to quickly establish himself as one of the finest central defenders outside of the Premier League’s big four.

Former Republic of Ireland defender Chris Hughton was part of United’s coaching staff when they agreed to sign the versatile defender on a three-year contract in July, and freely admits that nobody at St James’s Park was expecting the progress Bassong would make in such a short period of time.

So much so, Newcastle are desperately hoping the 22-year-old can recover from the hip injury picked up at home to Arsenal in his last game in time to face Chelsea at St James’s Park on Saturday.

With the Magpies dropping into the Premier League relegation zone before their last match, the visit of Guus Hiddink’s men – and every subsequent game unless or until United’s top-flight status for next season is secured – takes on massive importance to the club.

With every new television deal signed, the financial stakes become higher for those teams threatened with relegation from England’s top division, so it is impossible to downplay the significance of Newcastle’s final eight matches.

It was at Chelsea in November that Bassong made only his second league appearance at centre-back for Newcastle, and responded with a man-of-the-match performance. He has been a virtual ever-present in the heart of the defence since, making the £1.5m paid for him look like one of the bargains of the season.