Should Emre Play For Turkey

Last updated : 30 September 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

He has not played for Newcastle since he was injured playing for Turkey in the World Cup, but amazingly Graeme Souness is set to let Emre play for his country again - before he turns out for the Toon. The former Inter Milan and Galatasaray midfielder picked up a hamstring injury on international duty in Sofia and will take no part in the game at Portsmouth.

Turkey play on October 12 and he will not have played a game of any description for more than six weeks. Emre will not be involved when Turkey face their biggest rivals, Germany, in an Istanbul friendly a week tomorrow.

Graeme Souness: "I have had a talk with him and his advisor and he is not fit or available for us this Saturday. But I have said if he stays here and trains well without any trouble and Turkey's game against Albania in 10 days' time is still important and means something, I will let him travel with a view to playing.

"We don't want him playing too early for us and in my opinion the friendly against Germany in a week does come too early. He has no trouble with that."

"He is a big player for us, someone we cannot fool around with but someone we want back playing for Newcastle United. The fans have been excited by the little they have seen of him and the thought of being able to select him and the other injured players is very appetising."