Ouch! Danny is latest injury blow for Town
NEWCASTLE looked to be riding high last month after three straights wins, but their run was abruptly ended at home to West Ham, and the defeat to Wolves left them three points above the relegation zone.
As well as the suspended DeAndre Yedlin, Toon boss Rafa Benitez could be without central defender Federico Fernandez for the trip to Huddersfield as he faces a late test on a calf injury.
Jonjo Shelvey is also still out and Florian Lejeune is not quite ready to be risked after recovering from a serious knee injury, but Fabian Schar is available after suspension.
Another road trip may well suit Benitez’s men, who have suffered only two of their nine league defeats on the road this season, and will expect to pressure a Huddersfield side who are struggling to escape from the drop zone.
“Normally when we play away from home the other team is more exposed and open, so if you’re more organised you have chances on the counter-attack,” said Benitez.
“I think that’s why when we’re away we can do a bit better.”
Irrespective of the position in which the Magpies find themselves on Christmas Day, Benitez has indicated his desire to improve his squad in the January transfer window.
But he continued to deflect questions about potential targets and also his prospective cash funds, with time running out to secure a new owner in light of Mike Ashley’s apparent decision to sell.
“We have been working for a while looking for names and watching a few players,” added Benitez.
“The first thing is to identify the players and get some names and then decide, OK, we will go for this one. But we are in exactly the same situation.” THE injury blows keep on coming for Town with Danny Williams ruled out for 10 weeks.
The shattering news was delivered by head coach David Wagner ahead of today’s Premier League game with Newcastle at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Town are also without long-term injury victims Aaron Mooy, AUSTRALIA have not given up hope of having Huddersfield Town ace Aaron Mooy available for the Asia Cup in January - even though the tournament kicks off in just 22 more days.
The Socceroos play their first fixture against Jordan in Abu Dhabi just 24 hours later, on Sunday Abdelhamid Sabiri and club captain Tommy Smith at what is a critical stage in the campaign.
While Wagner welcomes back defender Terence Kongolo (knee) and midfielder Jonathan Hogg (groin), who are back in training and expected to be fit to face Rafa Benitez’s Toon, the Williams bombshell means a whole new rethink on his starting XI today.
“Unfortunately, on Wednesday, Danny Williams got injured as well,” January 6. Despite that - and the fact Mooy has been ruled out until February with a medial ligament tear in his right knee – Australia head coach Graham Arnold says they will work with Town to carry out their own investigation into Mooy’s fitness and potential availability.
“With such an important tournament coming up we want to explore every option available,” Arnold told the media. said Wagner, whose side are looking to end a run of three successive defeats.
“He has a medial ligament injury which is not isolated, so this means he will be longer sidelined than Aaron.
“We expect 10 weeks. This is not something which we wanted, to lose three midfield players and Tommy Smith in a week long-term, but this is part of the game.
“Now it is about how we deal with it. With injuries so far it has been great. We have had 20 to 24 players in training.
“We knew, though, that we would need everybody in our squad to manage the situation and that’s where we are now.”
Williams has featured just four times this season after missing out since March because of injury. Wagner could give Juninho Bacuna a first Premier League start after his encouraging substitute appearance at Arsenal, but he could opt to use either Erik Durm or Flo Hadergjonaj in the centre if he wants to
This not something which we wanted to lose three midfield players and Tommy Smith in a week
“Of course, Aaron’s long-term career and fitness remains our primary concern and we will not rush him to return to match play before he is safe and confident to do so, however we are also committed to leaving no stone unturned in our attempt to have him available for us at the tournament.
“We have agreed on this plan with Huddersfield and know that they are doing everything they can to manage retain his current formation. A change in formation would open up the chance for some of the wingmen to make an appearance. With Australia sending out their own physio to check on Mooy, Wagner said: “I feel for Aaron because he had two great months in front of him and now he is sidelined for eight weeks. “This is a blow, but we have played before without him, when he had a cut on his knee last season, and we will deal with the situation again. “We will try and support him, and all the guys who are out long term, to get back as quickly as they can, but we are also focused on our day by day business. “We have to find solutions tactically, in changing the formation, or with individuals and this is the good thing about this. “Over the last month, everybody has been fit and in full training and everybody knows what he has to do – so now they have the chance to show it after the injuries we conceded.” Aaron’s injury.” Mooy was injured in the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday and visited a specialist on Tuesday.
Town announced the following day their star midfielder would be out until February, missing crucial matches with his club and also the Asia Cup tournament with his country. Football Federation Australia now say they will conduct their own assessment.