He had only just returned from a seven-week lay off, scoring an equaliser for Newcastle's reserves in Monday night's 1-1 draw against Manchester United at St James's Park, when he limped off ... injured once again.
Kevin Keegan says the Turk now faces three weeks on the sidelines, and that must concern his international manager because although we rarely see the midfielder turn out in Toon colours, he rarely misses an international.
Turkey see him as the key to their European Championship campaign, and rumours persist he will use the competition to allert the big clubs in Italy he still has the X Factor.
He has never been far from both injury and controversy since his move from Inter Milan in the summer of 2005, and many times during the course of his stay his agent has touted his name to the likes of AC Milan, Inter and Bayern Munich.
The Turk was taken out by Man U youngster Ritchie Jones after just two minutes in the second-string clash, and things looked bad when the former Inter Milan ace threw his boots to the ground in disgust.
Keegan: "It was very frustrating. I thought the tackle was a bit rash.
"I would have been quite annoyed if one of my players had done that to Gary Neville, because he was also coming back from injury that night and trying to get himself fit.
"But it happened and he is out for three weeks. It's a blow, but it's not the end of the world. And he'll still be back for the three games and super-fit for Turkey for the European Championships.
"He is different to any other player I've got at the club. That's what you need. You can't have all the same kind of players at a football club.
"Different games will require different players at times.
"And he's outstanding as he has the ability to unlock defences and do something other players can't do."