By Matthew Jones
June 24 2005

Quotes from Shola Ameobi from his family holiday in Cyprus. The striker comments on his hip operation and the fact he will be out of action until the end of August at the earlist. Shola also comments on Emre, but these comments were made BEFORE it was confirmed he had signed. I'm in Cyprus at the moment on a family holiday but I've still been following the news from back home and noted with interest that we're playing Arsenal at Highbury on the opening day of the new season.

Unfortunately I'm suspended for the first couple of games, but I wouldn't be fit enough to face Arsenal on the opening day anyway. My hip operation went very well, but it takes a minimum of three months to recover fully from it, so I won't be available until late August at the earliest. It's a bummer to miss such a cracking first game but I have to make sure I'm right before making my return from injury this time.

This leaves the manager with Alan Shearer as our only striker for the Intertoto Cup games in July because of the departure of Patrick Kluivert and the situation involving Craig Bellamy. He does have the likes of Kieron Dyer who can play up front, but it's probably more likely that the gaffer will delve into the transfer market and bring one or two forwards to the club over the next few weeks. I'll be interested to see who he brings in, of course.

I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that the manager convinces Inter Milan's Emre to join Newcastle.

I was delighted that Graeme Souness signed Scott Parker from Chelsea. Once he gets himself fully fit he will be a great acquisition for the club and I have no doubt that he will do a superb job in our midfield. He's the sort of player who takes games by the scruff of the neck and we needed somebody like that.

I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that the manager convinces Inter Milan's Emre to join Newcastle. I believe they are having talks at the moment and I will be thrilled if he returns from Turkey with his signature. I've played against Emre a few times and have been very impressed by him. He's only small but he's extremely sharp and he will be a fantastic buy if we can get him. With the likes of Luis Figo also being linked to St James' Park, it's an exciting time.

Of course, with all these new arrivals due, some players have left the club in recent weeks. We all knew it was coming so it's been no surprise to me to see the manager changing things around. We have to make sure there is no repeat of last season's poor performances and that's why the manager will try to bring the players here that he believes will best take this club forward.

It wasn't a shock to see Laurent Robert go and maybe not Patrick Kluivert either, but it was sad to see the likes of Andy O'Brien and Aaron Hughes told that they had no future at this club. They are both great lads who did a good job for Newcastle United but football can be a harsh game. They will I'm sure pick themselves up from the disappointment of leaving and continue to improve at Portsmouth and Aston Villa respectively. Neither club will regret signing those players that's for sure.

As for me, I'm due to see a specialist on my return from Cyprus next week, but my hip feels OK so I'm confident he won't find any problems. I had some bone shaved and had the whole area cleaned up during the operation so I should be fine now. I've started light jogging, but like I said earlier I am a long way away from playing. Hopefully the specialist will give me the go-ahead to step up my rehab programme next week.