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Guest BlacknWhiteArmy

Give him 20 minutes at the end when we're cruising...

 

:facepalm:

 

Did you expect that kind of display? No.

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Lay-off has helped me grow up, admits Gosling

 

Jan 9 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

 

Dan Gosling is finally ready to make his mark in a Newcastle United shirt, as he tells MARK DOUGLAS in an exclusive interview.

 

DAN GOSLING made a promise to himself as an injury-ravaged 2010 laboured to a close.

 

After taking the final steps in a tortuous recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury, the England under-21 international has pledged never again to take life as a professional footballer for granted after nearly a YEAR out of action.

 

While most New Year’s resolutions are hatched in haste and repented at leisure, there is a good chance this one will see out Big Ben’s chimes at the end of 2011.

 

Because after nine months on the sidelines Gosling believes he is “more grown up” – both as a person and a player.

 

Just 20 years old, it might seem a bit young to be having that sort of revelation.

 

However, his knee injury was so bad that for six weeks he was virtually consigned to the couch as he began a slow healing process.

 

Gosling told the Sunday Sun: “The injury put things into perspective and hopefully I am coming back a more mature player.

 

“It was not nice and it made me realise just how lucky I am.

 

“I think it has just helped me to put into perspective how hard I should be working and how I don’t want to let these chances pass me by.

 

“It has made me realise how lucky I am just to be a professional footballer, to be honest.

 

“It has been a big, big wake-up call in some ways and to have it happen to you when you are young is tough.

 

“After I first did it I was on crutches for five and a half weeks and all of the little things were a problem.

 

“I could not get anything out of my fridge, I could not get myself a drink – it was so hard.

 

“It probably sounds stupid, but I have just taken everything for granted.

 

“When you cannot even walk, you realise how difficult life must be for people – yet here I am a professional footballer.

 

“I was looking at people walking down the street thinking ‘you’re so lucky to be able to do that’. People take their knees for granted!

 

“I think that has to be something that stays with me.

 

“We went to see the kids in hospital before Christmas and all the lads were quite quiet afterwards – those kind of things do make you realise.”

 

At least Gosling is over the worst of it now. Being involved in the build up for the West Ham game was a real fillip for the midfielder, who probably would have been back sooner if it was not for the arctic blast which put United’s Benton training base into a deep freeze during the final weeks of 2010.

 

Told affectionately by the club’s medical department to “get lost” in December, he was due to play two reserve games before he was added to the Toon first-team squad.

 

However, ice and snow laid waste to those plans and he was made to wait a few weeks longer than he had anticipated.

 

So can he say definitively he will be the same player as before – the midfield tyro who broke into the England set-up on the basis of industrious displays in Everton’s royal blue? Of that, Gosling has no doubts.

 

He added: “The first time I got told what it was I doubted how I would come back, whether I would ever be the same player.

 

“That was tough. There was shock and anger for two hours, maybe.

 

“However, as soon as I got over that initial thing I knew I would be back as good as before and it was just a matter of how long.

 

“I did it in eight months when I was told nine – I don’t know whether I would have taken that at the start of things.

 

“It has been a long time and I feel good, I feel fine now.

 

“I have had knocks on the knee and slipped over on it a couple of times.”

 

In fact, Gosling is a ready-made ‘new signing’ for Pardew – only one who will not involve squeezing a few extra pennies out of the cost-conscious United regime.

 

Gosling said: “I think it is going to be quite good for me in a way that no-one will really think about me. I saw that the manager said I would be like a new signing and I suppose I am.

 

“However, I would rather not be in the papers for not doing anything!

 

“I am not too concerned about what people think about me – the only time I am going to be judged is when I get out on to the pitch and start playing. Then you can judge me.

 

“I am going to have a big job getting back in because there are plenty of good central midfielders there already.

 

“But then every squad in the Premier League has good players and good options running right through it.

 

“I will just concentrate on getting fit, hopefully get that first chance and then it really is up to me to take it.”

 

There is, of course, a new manager to impress for Gosling – but the early portents from Alan Pardew are promising.

 

Gosling added: “I spoke to the new gaffer and he seems a really knowledgeable guy. Now it is up to me.

 

“Plenty has happened off the pitch since I joined, but I don’t regret it.

 

“This is a great club – and a great city.

 

“I love the people at the club, the fans, the lads and the staff too.

 

“I feel like I have been here for ages. I met them in July in Dublin, which is only six months ago but it feels like an absolute lifetime for me.

 

“All the lads have been great with me and I feel at home now.

 

“I have been to every home game so far and they have all been great. I went to the Sunderland game and that was the best atmosphere I have ever heard.”

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http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110111/gosling-to-make-return_2281670_2263516

 

Gosling to make return

Dan Gosling is set to play in his first Newcastle game - and his first match since March - in a behind-closed-doors practice match at the club's Training Centre this week.

The midfielder - a summer signing from Everton - suffered a cruciate ligament injury playing for The Toffees at Wolves, meaning he has yet to make his Magpies debut.

But he will figure in the private match against Hibernian on Wednesday as he gets closer and closer to a return to first-team action, having been frustrated by the recent weather.

"I've been looking forward to a game for a few months now so I can't wait," the Plymouth-born 20-year-old told nufc.co.uk. "Hopefully I'll get a good run out and we'll take it from there.

"The snow has halted my progress lately. I've been inside because the lads couldn't go outside due to the weather, and that doesn't prepare you properly to start playing again when you've been out for as long as I have. So it stopped my progress, but I feel good now.

"Hopefully Wednesday will come, the game will be on and I'll get a good run out."

Gosling travelled to the recent games at Wigan and Stevenage with the squad, an indication of how near he is to full fitness, and he hopes to be back in Barclays Premier League action by the end of the month.

"I was actually disappointed not to make the bench at Stevenage, but I'm very close," he vowed. "Hopefully I can get a good run-out on Wednesday, push on from there and see what the gaffer's thoughts are."

 

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Dan Gosling and Joan Edmundsson could be brothers!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5346080037_8f3c82c59f.jpg

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In front of interested spectators Mike Ashley, Derek Lambias and Alan Pardew, United midfielder Dan Gosling made his comeback from injury in a kickabout at the training ground on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Playing in central midfield alongside Danny Guthrie, the former Everton prospect put in some decent tackles and got forward at one point to strike the Hibs crossbar with a shot.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Dan Gosling and Joan Edmundsson could be brothers!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5346080037_8f3c82c59f.jpg

 

I take it that's an old photo? Would be weird if Edmundsson was still training with us despite being on loan.

 

From yesterday. Him and Tav still do training with us.

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