Woodgate Set For Operation

By Kyle Braithwaite
September 9 2003

Former Leeds defender Jonathan Woodgate, may have to go under the knife, which would rule the player out for up to 6 weeks.

Defender Jonathan Woodgate may require a hernia operation, which would rule him out of action for up to 6 weeks.

The former Leeds man has played just two games this season for the Magpies, because of a stomach strain which is proving unexpectedly difficult to shake off.

The medical staff at St James Park are finding it hard to get to the root of the problem, and Woodgate is now set for another scan to assess whether the complaint is more serious than first feared.

If Woodgate does have to go under the knife, it won’t be very helpful to Bobby Robson and his side who are still to win a game this season.