Caldwell Out This Sat - Def. Set To Leave St James
By Matthew Jones
December 23 2003
Newcastle United and Scotland International Steve Caldwell, has been ruled out of the Magpies' Boxing Day trip to Leicester City following a scan on a thigh injury.
CALDWELL OUT
Caldwell passed himself fit for United's visit to Charlton Athletic with Titus Bramble suspended and Jonathan Woodgate injured only to be overlooked in favour of Aaron Hughes - but he now faces up to two weeks on the sidelines.
Bramble returns from suspension for Newcastle's first-ever visit to the Walkers Stadium, and Nikos Dabizas may be recalled to the bench - although he is set to leave St James' Park in the January transfer window.
Caldwell has been carrying a small thigh problem for some time and United's medical staff will now discover the extent of the niggling injury.
He is out of contract at the end of the season and several First Division clubs (aswell as Spannish giants Barcelona) have expressed thier interest in him.
Robson opted to switch Hughes from right-back and bring Nolberto Solano in at full-back on Saturday at Charlton.
Caldwell believes he has no future at St James' and would reluctantly leave the club in January either permanently or on loan.
Sunderland are among the clubs monitoring his situation, along with the Bundesliga in Germany.
Speaking about SATURDAY's defense, Robson said: "Jason Euell's a strong player and we knew Aaron Hughes could play there. Nolberto Solano was one of our better players. He was outstanding, actually."
Newcastle United and Scotland International Steve Caldwell, has been ruled out of the Magpies' Boxing Day trip to Leicester City following a scan on a thigh injury.