Freddy ShepherdChairman Freddy Shepherd has spoken of his delight with manager Glenn Roeder over the past few weeks, Shepherd said:

“I have supported Newcastle United for over 50 years but never in that time can I recall such a run of injuries as we are experiencing now.

“Yet in my meetings with Glenn Roeder, I have to say he has never used this as an excuse for any bad performance and he has always kept his head up and in recent weeks.

“The manager, his staff and the players have really done a fantastic job for this football club in the most difficult of circumstances.

“This is our 29th game of the season so far, and to have an unbeaten eight-match run when we have been playing in the Premiership and kept our hopes alive in Europe and the Carling Cup at the same time is some achievement.

“This was always going to be a difficult season for us going into it for the first time without Alan Shearer and then Michael Owen being injured before a ball was kicked, and while obviously we are looking for a higher Premiership placing, the board cannot complain at the recent efforts of the management and players.

“Indeed, if I did not know that Glenn Roeder is a cockney from east London, I would say he was one of us because he shows all the qualities of a Geordie.”