Khamis, 14 Ogos 2008

Catatan tengahari..Owen to miss Old Trafford opener

As Manchester United moved for Dimitar Berbatov, there was increasing belief on Tyneside that Michael Owen will not be fit for Sunday's season opener at Old Trafford.
At a
Newcastle open training session at St James' Park yesterday morning, Owen merely jogged around the pitch as he recovers from a calf strain and, having not kicked a ball in pre-season, is almost certainly out of Sunday's match.
Obafemi Martins was also missing yesterday -- he has been granted compassionate leave to attend his mother's funeral in Nigeria -- and it is unknown if he will be togging out in Old Trafford.
Mark Viduka is out due to injury and Shola Ameobi is said to be in talks with Ipswich Town, pending a transfer to the Championship. That leaves teenager Andy Carroll, who is unfit, and Alan Smith, who has not yet scored a competitive goal for Newcastle, one year on from his £6m signing from Manchester United.
As of yesterday afternoon,
Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Keegan's signing from Real Mallorca, had still not received international clearance from FIFA, so there is concern about his participation -- and Keegan will have to deal with an increased bid of £8m from Aston Villa for James Milner.
Gutierrez's compatriot
Fabricio Coloccini did not train yesterday but at least his Premier League registration is expected through before tomorrow, meaning the £9.1m defender from Deportivo La Coruna should be in line for a debut.
But with seven spaces on the substitutes' bench this season, Newcastle may be struggling to fill them all with recognisable first-team players.
The Magpies are hoping to sign Tiago, the
Portugal midfield player, from Juventus. An agreement in principle has been reached between the clubs for the player to leave Turin on a season's loan, with an option to complete a permanent £10m transfer next summer.
Tiago, who played for
Chelsea and has been courted by Tottenham Hotspur, has been a disappointment in Italy after his £10m transfer from Lyon last year.

Source :
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/owen-to-miss-old-trafford-opener-1454273.html

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