Newcastle United get story straight on Santon injury
Posted on September 17th, 2011 | 8 Comments |
As I pointed out in this story yesterday, the ex Internazionale wing back has a history of right knee problems stemming from an lateral meniscus tear picked up in an Italy Under-21s game against Luxembourg in November, 2009. After Santon had surgery and returned to playing, the injury returned and more surgery was required, resulting in another period out of the game, and a drop in form on his second return.
When speaking in the injury yesterday, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew may have caused some confusion when he said of the injury:
“Unfortunately Davide has hurt his knee in training and been sent for a scan.
“It is an injury he has had before, we think it is a cartilage problem. We thought it was best to send him for a scan.
“I’m not actually sure of the mechanics of how it occurred. It’s very important he has a good start at this football club, so we want to make sure he’s 100%.”
He also said in another interview:
“It’s a worry. It looks like it could be a cartilage and it’s not something you want when he’s just come into the building. Maybe we’re looking at a month out.
“He’s going to have to get it cleaned out – it’s keyhole surgery nowadays which is a quicker operation but it will certainly mean at least four weeks out.
“Davide has had a few injuries in the last couple of years which isn’t ideal He’s been through a really thorough medical and he’s a little bit unlucky as we’re only a week or so on from the medical. He trained today and trained well. It was just when he came off, he complained a little bit and we’re erring on the side of caution with him.”
However the club have now stepped in to stress that the current right knee injury has nothing whatsoever to do with Santon’s previous right knee issues, and that the right knee in question was fine when he underwent his medical before joining the club at the end of August. In other words an attempt to assure fans that in their quest for a bargain, they hadn’t puchased a player with a recurring injury which would keep coming back.
The statement read:
“Newcastle United can confirm that Davide Santon sustained an injury to his right knee during training yesterday which will keep him out of Saturday’s match with Aston Villa,”
“The player had a scan on Thursday afternoon and will undergo treatment over the weekend and will be reviewed by a specialist early next week.
“Davide was injury-free when he completed his pre-signing medical examination and scans.
“The injury he sustained on Thursday is not connected to his previous injuries.”
As to whether this meant that Santon’s current injury ISN’T a lateral meniscus injury, or indeed a cartilage injury in general after all, they didn’t say.
Hey Worky, what do we know? I am staying positive on this one – in fact, I’m staying positive on just about everything with NUFC. “What can’t be fixed must be endured” and certain things we just can’t fix right now, but we can stay positive. And in the grand scheme of things, despite Bill Shankley, football ain’t really a matter of life and death – it’s a game, a sport; and when we loose track of that, well, we loose track of Life. HWTL! and let’s hope for 3 points at Villa Park.