Coloccini Has Broken Two Bones in Back – Out Until May

There’s a worrying report in the Shields Gazette today, saying that Fab Coloccini’s back injury may be worse than first thought, and he could be out until late April or early May.
                                                        
                                          Fab Coloccini - two bones broken and no treatment

And apparently Coloccini has already flown back to Argentina to be with his family – so maybe that will help the family problem that almost saw him leave Newcastle in January – but he is expected to be back at Newcastle next week – so he will definitely miss the game against Stoke City on Saturday.
Alan Pardew initially said he would be out for two weeks,  but now that’s been lengthened to anywhere between three and seven weeks, and this is what he had to say about Coloccini’s injury:

“Colo has gone back to Argentina,” . “There’s no treatment he can have – he’s broke two of the bones in his back.” “We think it’s going to be anything between three and seven weeks. He’s gone back for a week.”

Seven weeks from today takes us to the end of April, so it’s not exactly into May – and presumably that’s the worst case scenario, although only two days ago he was only going to be out for two weeks.
But that will now give new signing Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, signed from Montpellier in January, a long run in the side – and we’ll see what kind of central defensive partnership they can build together.
We hope neither of them gets injured through – because we only have Mike Williamson in reserve at the moment – and while Mike can play very well for Newcastle, he hasn’t had the best of seasons this term.