Just wanted to quote this again 

Last chance saloon for Baba

Oct 16 2007 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
Celestine Babayaro

CELESTINE BABAYARO is drinking in the last chance saloon as he bids to resurrect his career at St James’ Park.

The former Nigerian international has not turned out for United since March after suffering a succession of groin and hamstring problems.

But he is finally injury-free and must now prove to Sam Allardyce that he can do a job for United.

Amazingly, since joining the Magpies from Chelsea for £1m, he has had a whopping 14 different stints in the treatment room.

The full-back – who still has the rest of this season and next to run on his current deal – has pocketed a small fortune during his time at St James’ but United have got little in return for their outlay.

And after failing to emerge after a summer of treatment the question that has often been posed by loyal members of the Toon Army is: Just where is Celestine Babayaro?

But Big Sam told the Chronicle today: “He is no longer injured and he’s training.

“But having not played competitively for such a long time he is short of match fitness.

“This now is the last go at it for Celestine.”

There’s no question that Babayaro has the ability after a successful career with Chelsea which saw him help the Stamford Bridge club to an FA Cup triumph in 2000.

But ever since he was forced out of Chelsea following the arrival of Wayne Bridge his career has been tainted by one problem after another, and he has only played in 68 of United’s 142 competitive games games since arriving in January 2005.

There was plenty of sympathy and admiration for Babayaro in February when he played for the club just 12 hours after losing his brother, who died from tuberculosis.

But Babayaro, who is believed to earn in the region of £35,000 per week at United, was rapped by the FA for punching Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt in an off-the-ball incident in September 2006, and he is currently out of favour with the Nigerian international side following a long-standing rift with his home association.

That means the left-back is highly unlikely to be involved in the African Cup of Nations in Ghana, a tournament that will see United lose other Africans like Oba Martins, Geremi, Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye for up to six weeks from the start of January.

And Big Sam dangled a carrot in front of Babayaro when he underlined the fact there could be first-team opportunities later in the season when he will be short of numbers.

He added: “There is a possibility that we may need Celestine in January.

“We’ll have four players away at the African Nations then.

“But we have to get him match fit and then keep him that way.

“The squad will be short in January and we will need all of what we do have left to stay fit after what will have been a gruelling December programme.”

Allardyce is happy with the progress of Damien Duff, who had another week of solid training as he recovers from his ankle injury.

But while Duff could be back next month, a player Allardyce would love to be able to rely on in January will be missing in Peter Ramage.

Commenting on the pair, he said: “Damien is on schedule and we are very pleased with Peter’s early progress after his knee injury.”

I am gobsmacked he has played in 68 of the 142 games since he has been here.
I would have guessed somewhere around half that.

I still think Baba can come good, he has alot of potential, i mean he was class when we played Barcelona that time.

The bit about needing Baba when the African Nations on, is there no chance (if fit) Baba will be playing in that tourny too?

So why isn't Taye Taiwo going?