Injuries Are Dictating NUFC Headlines Again

Just when the injury list started to clear and the physios could start flicking through the holiday brochures, they get some overtime.

In true NUFC style, we don't do it by halves around here and we're like that famous bus cliche where you can wait around a while before three turn up at once.

Although, it's not like that technically but it feels like it.

The latest batch of new recruits to the sick bay within St James' walls is Tim Krul and Fabricio Coloccini.

Krul got a nasty whack on the ankle in the Ukraine last week by one of their serial divers, just to rub salt in the wounds. A kick so severe that it's caused ligament damage which will leave the Dutch number 1 out for up to five weeks.

Coloccini's injury came about as a mix of a mistake and a comedy moment.

He dallied a bit on the ball in defence last week against Southampton and found himself penned into our corner flag area but the Argentinian skillfully got out of danger by teeing himself up to overhead kick the ball clear.

The resulting fall to earth on his back causing a bit of damage which at first glance was just supposed to clear after some slight treatment but the whispers now suggest that he could miss a few games.

Another injury, this time to genial Hatem Ben Arfa, although this time it's the length of time it's taking for his hamstring strain to heal.

Three months and counting with manager Alan Pardew trying to calm the fan's feelings about rushing him back too soon and explaining that he's not quite right just yet.

'His conditioning has to go up the levels now and he's aware of that,' 'He's been protecting his hamstrings. It's now a question of trying to get that work in, so the message I am giving the fans is don't expect too much here. This guy, where I thought perhaps he could start on Thursday (in Moscow), I don't think he can physically but we are pushing him. We're going to push him for Thursday if we can.

'There is no blame attached to him. He had a little trouble this week with illness so he missed a day and he has missed a couple of days here and there which have cost him. I think that from now on, he cannot miss any more days but I am not being critical of him, definitely not.

'I am just telling our fans because I know our fans are like, 'Let's get Hatem in the team,' and he ain't ready.'

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