Forest Play Down Dawson Link +Fans View On CB

By Matthew Jones
August 23 2004

With Jonathan Woodgate having left for Real Madrid, Newcastle desperately need a replacement central defender. Nottingham Forest's Michael Dawson is one of the names linked with the Magpies, but Forest boss Joe Kinnear has played down any chance of Dawson moving north.

Dawson, 23, would perhaps of struggled a medical having undergone surgery earlier this month, but Newcastle don't seem to have anything to worry about with Forest adamant that he is staying at the City Ground.

Joe Kinnear said:

"As far as I'm concerned this speculation is a load of utter garbage.

"The press boys and agents can talk to who they want and they can say what they want because it's all immaterial.

"Daws has got two more years left on his contract and that means we will decide what's happening.

"He's contracted to Nottingham Forest Football Club, end of story."

One Forest fan (Micheal Lynch) I spoke to had this to say about the player:

Michael Dawson. Well what can I say? 'Daws,' as he is known by his many admirers, is an amazing young talent and undoubtedly the finest young defender in The Championship. An England star of the future, it is the view of the many Forest fans that have been lucky enough to see the center-half play that he will easily become one of the finest players in the world when he is older.

Dawson is only a youngster but is already acting like an experienced leader and has captained Nottingham Forest and the England Under-21's side on numerous occasions. The immense quality possessed by the brother of Chesterfield's Kevin Dawson has seen him attract the attentions of many Prmeiership clubs including Liverpool and Newcastle United.

The transfer window closes on 31 August so any replacement for Woodgate needs to be found asap!