Is Viduka Worth The Wages? - Kinnear On Injuries
By Tyne-Talk
December 29 2008
Joe Kinnear will really have to start looking at whether Mark Viduka is worth his wages as he is out for at least another three weeks with another injury. The Aussie striker who has repeatedly picked up injuries throughout his Newcastle career managed not even 90minutes before tearing a groin muscle and being ruled out. This after making his 1st appearence of the season at the end of November.
Viduka revisits the physio room alongside Obafemi Martins, Nicky Butt and Habib Beye all of who have picked up recent injuries. These are in addition to those with long term problems including Joey Barton, Gonzalez and Alan Smith.
Kinnear said of his injury woes;
"Beye's on crutches and you'd think he's going to be out at least three weeks,
Viduka's got a torn groin muscle, and I'd think he would be at least three weeks as well.
Oba Martins will be at least two weeks minimum.
We already know Joey Barton is down, and with Nicky Butt going down (with cramp) against Liverpool, who knows what the team will be at Hull?
I can't see any of the injured players coming back.
If we get our best team out we are fine, but the strength of the squad needs to be much better.
January will be hectic on and off the field," he said. "We need to address that situation immediately.
And that's the message I am getting across to Mike Ashley and the board of directors.
If we are looking for a team for the future and want to go forward and make a statement against teams like Liverpool, we must strengthen.
The players I am looking at bringing in are players who can come straight into the team. But I will have to make some changes.
I was looking at certain areas, assuming that everybody was fit and well. But due to the length of time people are out injured it could change."
After the defeat on home soil against Liverpool yesterday Newcastle will be looking to bounce back against Hull who after starting the season well have failed to shine in their last few matches; but with half the 1st team out injured Kinnear is going to have to rely on his young players to see them through to the 4th round of the FA cup.
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On the bigger issue i would take a defeat at hull and just see this as a two week break now to get one or two back in the squad. I would even go as far as saying rest of the better players left for the hull game as to not risk them.
I would play:
Harper
Edgar
Taylor
Tozer
Kadar
Lua Lua
Guthrie
Geremi
Duff
Carroll
Xisco
Why risk losing any one else against hull in a game that we can't get any points from!
Buy Heskey he will fill Viduka's roll and then some.
The Eastenders of football.. Newcastle!
Bendtner?? Would cost about 6m.
Either way, Viduka isn't worth it, should most certainly not be extended and, in my humble opinion, never should have been signed in the first place. Before you ask, yes, that is what I said at the time.