Luque Not Out For 6 Weeks After All ... It's EIGHT!

Newcastle United's £9m man Albert Luque has pledged to try to get back into a black-and-white shirt before the "eight to 10 weeks" the club expect him to be on the sidelines.

The former Deportivo La Coruna striker said: "I am disappointed but hopefully I will be able to return a bit sooner than that if my recovery goes well. If it is eight or 10 weeks then it is a long time to be out but, as I say, it would be good to return before that. I was running to get the ball and I just got a little push. I tried to stop, but the injury occurred when I pulled up.

"It was very painful at the time, and I knew straight away it was a bad one. I've never had an injury like this before. I was really looking forward to the game - it was very important for us because we needed to win and get the points. So to have to come off was disappointing. I was trying to link up with Shearer and Owen and get an understanding with them.

"I will try and learn some English when I am out of action, so that will help me with my new team-mates. I will come and watch Newcastle and support the team. I hope they can do well and start moving up the table. It will be frustrating for me not be able to play. I would rather be on the pitch with my team-mates, but there is nothing I can do now."