Source: FOOTYMAD
Exclusive - Shola Ameobi's Mask!
Shola Ameobi is ready to return to action, but will wear a protective face mask as he is still recovering from a broken cheekbone. Ameobi has missed the last four games due to the injury he suffered against Fulham, but visited a specialist in the United States to be fitted for the mask (pictured above). Alan Pardew: ''Shola has had a week with the mask, just getting used to it. ''There was no point getting him to wear the mask, ask him to play and he wasn't comfortable with it. ''He has to have that confidence it is going to protect him so he can throw himself around as usual. The guy who has designed the mask has done so loads of times before with basketball players and that is a far more risky sport when it comes to elbows in the face and injuries like this. ''But Shola still had to try it out, he's done that now and it would be great to have him involved at the weekend. I'm a big admirer of Shola, he's a very good player and he will give us an extra physical presence.''
