AJ could be out for the rest of the season

[NorthernWhite]

The decision to let Kamara leave and not get another striker in could come back to haunt us in a big way. Let's hope that Okaka finds his feet quickly in this league. I've a funny feeling if he starts he might bag a brace tomorrow night.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1248114/Andy-Johnsons-troublesome-knee-Fulham-striker-season.html?ITO=1490

Andy Johnson could miss the rest of the season if specialists decide the striker needs surgery on his knee.

But Fulham boss Roy Hodgson heard the news only after allowing Diomansy Kamara to join Celtic on loan, a move he would not have sanctioned if he had known the seriousness of the injury.

Johnson, 28, will have an exploratory operation this week and Hodgson said: 'If they find the problem is major, Andy would need an operation that would keep him out for the rest of the season. If we're lucky it's something wrong with the cartilage or something like that, then he might be back earlier.

'One of the reasons we let Diomansy go was because we didn't think the problem with Andy was anywhere near as grave.

'If you said to me, "Would I like him (Kamara) back here?" then I would, but it's too late.'

Hodgson's side are at home to Portsmouth tonight, with loan signings Nicky Shorey, from Aston Villa, and Roma striker Stefano Okaka hoping to make their Fulham debuts.

[Fernhurst]

Is some sort of retribution God paying us back for having zero injuries last season ???

"You lucky people".................................................................. NOT :-[

[YankeeJim]

We were foryunate last season but I think our luck this year far outweighs that of last year.
Who besides Aaron hasn't mised at least a game?

[FatFreddysCat]

Ah some good news at last. :)

[Brede Butter Pudding]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5913964,00.html

Roy Hodgson is worried that Andy Johnson could be out for the rest of the season and has voiced his regret over Diomansy Kamara's loan move to Celtic.

The Fulham manager has had to cope with injuries to some of his key players this term but Johnson had looked to be progressing well after a recent spell on the sidelines.

However, the striker will now have to undergo an exploratory knee operation to discover whether he requires further surgery that could rule him out for several months.

Hodgson hopes that will not be the case as he would like to welcome Johnson back into the fold before the end of Febrruary.

"AJ's going to have an exploratory operation on his knee," said Hodgson.

"If they find that the problem is as major as it could possibly be, then he would need an operation that would keep him out for the rest of the season.

"If we're lucky and the major operation is not needed, and it's something wrong with the cartilage, then he might be back earlier.

"At the moment we're talking three to four weeks, and the worst-case scenario is the rest of the season and him being fit to join us in pre-season."

Having allowed fellow forward Kamara to link up with Celtic, Johnson's injury will leave Hodgson short of attacking options.

The manager added: "One of the reasons why we let Diomansy go was because we didn't think the problem with Andy was anywhere near as grave.

"I was concerned that I would not be able to give Diomansy regular games, so when a club of Celtic's stature comes in for him, it is very difficult for me to say 'you have to stay'.

"Of course now I have let him go and have further news about Andy, I might be beginning to regret it, but you can only make decisions at the time.

"If you said to me, would I like him back here, then I would, but it's too late.

"Andy is shattered. He's devastated. If it's as serious as it could turn out to be, it needs to be put right for the start of next season."

Relegation
Fulham's injuries are threatening to derail a promising campaign and Hodgson admits the priority is to end a run of five straight defeats against Portsmouth on Wednesday and beat the drop.

"Relegation has to be an issue for everybody who isn't totally free of it," he stated.

"You'd have to be up around 30 points to say it's no interest, but it doesn't occupy my thoughts.

"At the moment I can divorce performances from results, but if you keep losing you will get dragged down there and get into a relegation battle.

"I'm hoping that won't happen and in the not-too-distant future we will have a squad of players together who are more competitive than we currently are."

[TonyGilroy]

I suspect that explains the very late interest in Beattie.

With Greening on a loan we only had room for one more loan from England so presumably Shorey was deemed the priority.

Had we been able to take Beattie on loan it might have happened.

Kamara had already mentally left for Celtic and I'd guess the judgment was that we'd get little value from him if the move was denied. That's still what we should have done though IMO.

[epsomraver]

SSN said last night that Gera is out with ......................  yes another knee inury so the Paddy and shorey start?

[LordFloyd]

and we can't recall Kamara because?......

[epsomraver]

It really depends on what the contract said,, saying that i would be more upset if it was Nev or even BZ than AJ, he really won't be missed.

[Lighthouse]

and we can't recall Kamara because?......

Because he wore that weird luminous yellow and bee shirt that just looked wrong last night. How could we take him seriously again.

[Admin]

and we can't recall Kamara because?......

It's a loan with a view to buy. If it was just a loan, we could re-call him at any stage. The only way he can return is if Celtic send him back at the end of his loan not wanting to buy him.

[Lighthouse]

Roy clearly states it is the worst scenario if AJ is out to next season with an operation. So he is looking on the lighthouse side of life and quite right too.

[finnster01]

Ah some good news at last. :)

Keeping my fingers crossed as well