Sheedy Says Souness Is Plagued With Bad Luck

Kevin Sheedy (talking to The Journal): "Newcastle have been really unfortunate with injuries so far this season but hopefully that will clear up. When you look at the list of the people who are missing I think any club would miss players of that calibre, and Newcastle are no different.

"It is down to luck really with injuries, that is how I remember it as a player. You look at Liverpool in the late 1970s when they were one of the best sides around and they had no injury problems at all during their successful era.

"With things like hamstring trouble there is not much you can do about it, you get hamstring injuries in World Cups, the Premiership right down to non-league level - it is part of the parcel in football.

"Once they get Michael Owen back out there again and a few other players back they will start winning matches on a regular basis.

The manager has certainly had a long casualty list, but Souness doesn't need any encourageing when it comes to blaming bad luck for defeats. But even the Jock must admit his side have had their share of good fortune in the last few games. Three shots on target against Blackburn (Blackburn had NINE) and we won 3-0; Pompey outplayed the Toon for 90 minutes on Saturday and (thanks to good luck and Shay Given) we took a point.

It's when the BAD LUCK returns ... that's when we start to worry.