Ameobi in fitness race

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi is facing a battle against the clock to play his part in the club’s Intertoto Cup campaign.

The 24-year-old, one of only three strikers on the books at St James’ Park, is yet to resume training following treatment on his troublesome hip injury.

Manager Glenn Roeder hopes to see him back next week, but if he does not make it, his chances of lining up against either Keflavik or Lillestrom on July 15 are minimal.

The Magpies were boosted when they were told an injection rather than surgery could solve the long-standing problem.

However, Ameobi is still feeling discomfort after undergoing that procedure, and with only Albert Luque and James Milner fighting for places up front, that could leave his side well short.

Roeder said: “Shola only had an injection two weeks ago and unfortunately, he’s been unable to return to training. He’s near to returning and hopefully he will early next week.

“What he’s feeling is a little bit of needle soreness because of the probing around they did to get the right spot. He’s still feeling sore where the needle went in.

“We were hoping he could return on Wednesday with the others, but he wasn’t able to because of the pain.

“At the moment, he’s in the physio room working on other things and as far as July 15 is concerned, I’d have to say he’s touch and go. If he doesn’t return next week, it would be asking a lot for him to play.

“We’d be asking him to go into a full-blooded game with just 10 days’ training under his belt.”

Ameobi had an operation last summer, but the problem has returned just at the wrong time with Michael Owen’s injury, Alan Shearer’s retirement and Michael Chopra’s departure for Cardiff.

Indeed, until Roeder manages to land his major striking target, he is the only out-and-out striker in the squad.

Roeder added: “The fitness coach, Paul Winsper, wanted to return (for pre-season training) on July 1, but I pulled it forward to June 28 because I felt we needed 17 days’ training.

“That should be enough for the players if they don’t miss any days. But if players miss any, it becomes virtually impossible for them to perform. The human body won’t allow it and we must understand that.

“After seven weeks off, you can’t just put someone through a game of football at this level, and I sometimes get annoyed when people don’t understand fitness.

“There’s a minimum amount of time that a player needs, and any manager who plays someone who is injured needs their head examined.”