By Matthew Jones
December 29 2003

Just thought I would bring this to your attention as there is not much Newcastle news. Barry Ferguson’s first season in the English Premiership came to an end yesterday at St James' Park when the Scotland midfielder fractured his kneecap.

FERGUSON OUT FOR SEASON

Barry Ferguson’s first season in the English Premiership came to an end yesterday at St James' Park when the Scotland midfielder fractured his kneecap.

Former Rangers captain Ferguson was stretchered off on 28 minutes following a seemingly innocuous challenge with Gary Speed.

He was taken to hospital in Newcastle, where it was quickly confirmed that he had broken his kneecap. Ferguson was due to return to Blackburn last night and is expected to undergo surgery to wire the kneecap in the next 24 hours.

Rovers manager Graeme Souness said: "Barry Ferguson has broken his kneecap. If you’ve watched us over the last few weeks, he’s been our outstanding player, and it’s a real blow to lose him. He’ll be out for the rest of the season.

"He’s in hospital. We’re going to go and pick him up on the way back, and he’ll have it all wired up either tonight or tomorrow. It was an innocuous challenge - I think he’s the one who’s making the challenge. That just shows you, with the pace of our game, if you get it wrong at all, you’re risking everything."

FULL REPORT

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