Newcastle United's Shola Ameobi Out For Six Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Shola Ameobi's battle to regain fitness has hit a massive stumbling block after pulling his hamstring that will keep him out of action for the next six weeks.
Updated: The club have officially confirmed the injury and say Shola will be out for 4-6 weeks. Shola Ameobi's battle to regain fitness has hit a massive stumbling block after pulling his hamstring that will keep him out of action for the next six weeks. The Newcastle Chronicle's Chief Sports Writer Lee Ryder just twittered the news. Ameobi had been hoping to start Wednesday's Carling Cup game against Blackburn Rovers, his first start since QPR game in September but obviously his latest injury struggle puts the kibosh on that. His absence weakens Pardew's front line as Ameobi lately has been the man to come on when Demba Ba loses interest in matches and obviously scored that cracker last week to equalize late on against Spurs. Meanwhile Steven Taylor has suffered a broken nose in the win against Wigan on Saturday. He managed to play the rest of the second half after through the pain but is now expected to sit out the midweek Carling Cup match but could be available for selection next Monday night against Stoke. We've heard that the club are contacting the same guy who fitted Shola Ameobi's mask when he suffered a facial injury a while back to see if Taylor needs one too. Last week on Radio Newcastle, Alan Pardew suggested that James Perch was the centre back cover for Taylor. And finally, veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper has joined Brighton on a month's loan to try and get him some game time. Pardew suggested last week that Harper may not be the third choice but did not want to have two goalkeepers battling for a bench spot so one of new signing Rob Elliott and Harper had to go out on loan and in the end it was Harper. Presumably the one month's loan could be extended if all parties are happy.