Newcastle United FC

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Ameobi targets return

21 Mar 2007 - 14:49:01

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Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi still hopes he can return to first-team action before the end of the season.

The 25-year-old has been sidelined since November after being forced to have a hip operation and had been expected to miss the rest of the campaign.

But after making a quicker than expected recovery from surgery, Ameobi is targeting a return to action before the season finishes in May.

"It's gone a lot better than I first anticipated, which is great for me," he told the Evening Chronicle.

"What I've got to do now is get fit and get all the muscles firing and strong. That's the stage I'm at now and hopefully in not too long a time I'll be back training.

"There's not really a time scale on it. It depends how quickly I get past each step, but hopefully I'll get a couple of games in this season. That's the target I've set myself, but I don't want to set a date in case something goes wrong.

"You have to set yourself targets. When they told me I needed the operation, the first thing I said was 'can I play again this season?'

"You have to give yourself that incentive to keep working hard. It's tough at times being on the sidelines and I think it helps you to keep your focus.

"You need to be focused if you're going to work hard and I've been delighted with how my rehab has gone."