I've lost count of the Newcastle managers who have said: "if I had an injury free Kieron Dyer we wouldn't be in the mess we are in".
And also lost count of the Toon fans who have said over the years: "I'd get him fit and sell him".
The England international has become a transfer target for Tottenham, and we wonder if Glenn Roeder has the same thoughts on the 28-year-old midfielder as some of the supporters. And one national newspaper believes the player is ready to leave Tyneside after eight seasons.
But there are problems, not least that Spurs will have to find at least £6m to persuade Newcastle to sell and Martin Jol will then have to try to fit Dyer into the wage structure at White Hart Lane.
It is understood Dyer earns about £80,000 a week at Newcastle whereas the highest-paid player at Tottenham is Robbie Keane on an estimated £45,000.
Glenn Roeder is already preparing for another midfielder, Reading's Steve Sidwell, to arrive on a free transfer. But that was thought to be to replace Emre who looked at one stage to be on his way to Italy, and now the Turk insists he wants to stay.