Post by Salem6 on Apr 28, 2004 10:24:34 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - Newcastle United defender Jonathan Woodgate will miss the end of the season with a thigh injury jeopardising his chances of playing for England at Euro 2004.
Newcastle's worst fears have been confirmed that an injury Woodgate suffered in Sunday's 2-1 home win over Chelsea is a torn thigh muscle.
It will rule him out of their bid to finish fourth this season, worth a place in the Champions League qualifiers, and next week's UEFA Cup semi-final second leg at Olympique Marseille.
Manager Bobby Robson had warned on Sunday that the 24-year-old central defender could be out for up to six weeks.
Robson's anguish will be shared by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was expected to call on Woodgate for his squad of 23 for the tournament in Portugal.
Eriksson, who is due to name his squad on May 17, will already be missing one central defender after Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand was banned for eight months for missing a drugs test.
Newcastle's website said on Tuesday Woodgate faced "a race against time" to be fit for Euro 2004, where England will take on holders France, Switzerland and Croatia in Group B.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=4954407&src=eDialog/GetContent§ion=news
Newcastle's worst fears have been confirmed that an injury Woodgate suffered in Sunday's 2-1 home win over Chelsea is a torn thigh muscle.
It will rule him out of their bid to finish fourth this season, worth a place in the Champions League qualifiers, and next week's UEFA Cup semi-final second leg at Olympique Marseille.
Manager Bobby Robson had warned on Sunday that the 24-year-old central defender could be out for up to six weeks.
Robson's anguish will be shared by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was expected to call on Woodgate for his squad of 23 for the tournament in Portugal.
Eriksson, who is due to name his squad on May 17, will already be missing one central defender after Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand was banned for eight months for missing a drugs test.
Newcastle's website said on Tuesday Woodgate faced "a race against time" to be fit for Euro 2004, where England will take on holders France, Switzerland and Croatia in Group B.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=4954407&src=eDialog/GetContent§ion=news