Emre Set To Play ... No, Not For Us!

Last updated : 10 October 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

This week we saw Michael Owen, Emre and Craig Moore all flying off to foreign lands when all three were unavailable to play at Portsmouth on Saturday. The situation is becoming so comical we are beginning to wonder if the club's medical staff are being run by Dr Nick from the Simpsons!

Graeme Souness does not want his midfielder Emre to play on Wednesday for Turkey, as we haven't seen him in a Toon shirt since he injured himself the last time he played for Turkey. But the Newcastle manager fears the worst as Emre is facing increasing pressure to put his country's World Cup destiny ahead of his proposed club comeback.

Emre faces immediate calls to play in Wednesday's Group Two clash against Albania, despite sorely lacking competitive match practice. An injury to Besiktas playmaker Tumer Metin has left the Turks short staffed.

It is understood Graeme Souness' £4.5m signing is keen to play for his country, despite knowing it is a big risk. A risk Souness is dreading as he hoped to see Emre line-up in Newcastle's Saturday lunchtime trip to Wigan Athletic. The Scot has already seen too many of his players "jump the gun" returning from injury. Kieron Dyer and Nobby Solano are just two.