Neville in six-week KO
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GARY NEVILLE is facing a New Year operation which may rule him out of action for six weeks.
And boss Alex Ferguson is planning to replace him with unknown reserve Danny Simpson. Fergie has called the youngster, 20 next week, back from a loan spell at Royal Antwerp and told him to get ready for his first-team debut.
Manchester United captain Neville has failed to recover fully from calf and knee problems which have plagued him all season. He has missed the last two games with a knee problem — an injury which has been troubling him since the World Cup last summer. He looked to have recovered but suffered a setback in the recent 1-0 defeat at West Ham and has also had problems with each calf.
Ferguson confirmed in November that unless the problems were cleared up by the New Year he would undergo an op. Neville has been training alone with the club physios this week and wants to play at home to Reading today and at Newcastle on Monday. Then United will take advantage of a break in the Premiership campaign for the player to have an operation.
UnitedÂ’s next league game after the trip to St JamesÂ’ comes two weeks later away to Aston Villa, who they also play in the FA Cup in between. Neville would be expected to miss five league games in all but Ferguson wants the problem sorted out so he can have his captain fresh for the title run-in.
The knee may just require keyhole surgery to gather the extent of the problem and then rest to build up its strength. It is hoped there is nothing more wrong but each calf also looks like needing surgery. The elevation of Simpson straight into the first team is the big surprise. The move will be bad news for Wes Brown who fears he is going to be sold by United. His contract is up in the summer and he is still to be offered a new deal. -
will he be MU weak-link?
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is this good news or bad news?
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What the heck
Hopefully Wes Brown can be an able deputy.
I don quite like the idea of Danny Simpson leh -
Unexposed players should always play more. -
Its either this simpsons guy is one helluva unknown gem or fergie is going bonkers and suicidal.. Lets just hope its the first.. =)
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well i got no comments as i've never seen him play, maybe we'll get a glimps of him tonight
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in a good way, good news.
it means GN can have a proper rest.
secondly, with GN out, we are less prone to counter attack from the right as Brown is not as inclined to attack as GN.
also, brown is one of those out and out defenders who will make his presence known. -
FERGIE DENIES NEVILLE 'SURGERY' REPORTS
Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected claims Gary Neville will be out for six weeks and revealed the Manchester United full-back will play at Newcastle on New Year's Day.
Earlier in the season Ferguson admitted Neville might require surgery to correct a long-standing calf problem and reports surfaced on Saturday morning that the 31-year-old is due to have an operation at the start of next month.
Neville's absence from United's last three games, including Saturday's 3-2 win over Reading, only fuelled speculation all was not well with the England star.
However, Red Devils officials played down the fears over Neville's fitness before the game, with Ferguson offering his own input after watching United charge six points clear of Chelsea at the Barclays Premiership summit.
"Gary is playing at Newcastle on Monday, so that six weeks has obviously been reduced by some miracle drug," he scoffed.
"It is so silly. These reports have supposedly come from some great authority. What kind of authority is it when the lad is going to play on Monday?"
Ferguson confirmed Rio Ferdinand was receiving treatment for a kick on the shin but said Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes would definitely be available for the St James' Park encounter after missing Saturday's win through suspension.
Lucky he is ok... Brown can't seem to make good crosses. -
But Brown doing his job quite well for the moment..
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Yea agreed.. He is one of the best tackler I have seen but too rolls royce already lah de bugger ahaz..Originally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:But Brown doing his job quite well for the moment.. -
Dear Gary Neville,
Please DON'T get well soon.
Cheers.
C.K
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lol..Originally posted by CKeer:Dear Gary Neville,
Please DON'T get well soon.
Cheers.
C.K