According to Ronnie:

Newcastle United have been left reeling by another massive injury blow with central defender Alain Goma likely to be sidelined for six weeks with a broken hand.

The French defender will not play again until the derby match with Middlesbrough at St James's Park in the middle of March - at the earliest.

This left head coach Mick Wadsworth to say today: "This is a heck of a blow for us but it is something we will just have to get on with."

Goma actually damaged his hand last Wednesday when a Chelsea player stood on it in United's 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

To Goma's credit - he has already played on with a broken nose this season - he was prepared to battle on thinking his hand was only badly bruised.

But he was in so much pain on Friday the former Paris St Germain defender was forced to go for a scan.

And when the scan revealed that the hand was broken Goma immediately had his injury put in plaster, leaving the United defending again reflecting on the bad luck he has this season.

It's not unusual for players to

get permission from match referees to turn out with casts on hand and wrist injuries these days.

But Wadsworth added: "As far as Alain is concerned this is an unstable fracture so he will not be able to play with any sort of cast."

Goma's injury is the latest blow for Bobby Robson, United and indeed the player himself.

The Frenchman has remained on the transfer list and there is a good chance he will be sold in the summer.

But despite his desire to leave St James's Park, Goma has nevertheless buckled down and still done his stuff on the field.

Robson has two central defenders lined up to come in should United sell Marcelino or Goma, but this does not include injuries.

Marcelino is the obvious choice to replace Goma at Charlton on Sunday with Stevie Caldwell still recovering from a thigh injury.

Bugger!

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Answers

Ah well, makes the TeamPIck a bit easier................or not!

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Unbloodybelievable - are we snake-bitten or what?

This club is definitely cursed.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

How's Derek Wright at defending? Perhaps he wasn't so much helping Al get back to fitness as doing his own training so he's ready for his impending call up to the first team. ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Sky text reporting Bobby as saying 4 weeks - with the two week break that may mean only 3 matches.

take bets on Goma being fit before Carl Cort

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Who next , ill take your bets now ... Hughes gets my money just to complete the full 11 : - ((

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

I'm with you there, Sting. What are your odds?

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2001

Hmm, apparently there's a Northern Irish friendly against Norway in a couple of weeks... pointless international, Solksjaer on the pitch, the Toon can't afford to lose any more players. Sting, you should pay out now.

-- Anonymous, February 06, 2001

Good news, according to Ronnie:

Newcastle United are hoping to have Alain Goma back in action in the next couple of weeks.

United announced that the French defender would be out of action for six weeks after he broke his hand in the defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday night.

But after seeing a specialist today, Goma has had a special cast put on his injury and it should help him in his bid for an early return.

Indeed, head coach Mick Wadsworth told me today: "The cast Goma has had put on should allow him to play.

"We don't know about Sunday's game at Charlton Athletic but he will be able to play sooner than we expected."

In cases like this the final word is always left to the referee but usually players get the green light from the match officials.

Personally, I'll believe it when I see it.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

Dougs.....Ole Gunnar doesn't play for Norway anymore does he? I thought he'd been permanently dropped cos he refused to sign some dodgy sponsorship deal for the norwegian fa....

Still I get the point :(( who are our physios and can we check out their professional qualifications? it's starting to become more than just a bad joke.....i'm looking for some conspiracy theory....

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

Meanwhile the former player jinx continues. Domi has picked up a new mystery injury in his second game for PSG.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

Yes - I saw that about Domi. Shame, really ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

Well, at least we aren't the suckers paying for him to recover...

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

.....could be something to do with this doll that I stick pins in! Tosser!

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

There's some kind of Stephen King novel to be written about our injuries plus the inuries that befall our ex-players: Duncan was on at Goodison, scored and promptly hurt his arm and had to leave the field of play in agony....

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001

Has anyone checked the club's medical staff for hidden voodoo dolls? Terrible news about Big Dunc. I was so happy when I saw that he'd scored

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2001