Charles N'zogbia update

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I'll defend you. I am sure billionaire media tyrant Dave Woodhall can afford my retainer.

[pauliewalnuts]

Paul Lambert: Charles N'Zogbia is not in the Villa 'Bomb Squad'

Boss insists Charles N'Zogbia is not surplus to requirements at Villa but says winger is not yet fit enough to train with the first team

Paul Lambert has revealed Charles N’Zogbia is training with Aston Villa’s kids – but insists he is not a member of his notorious ‘Bomb Squad’ of unwanted players.

N’Zogbia has been sidelined all season with a ruptured Achilles sustained during the close season on a holiday in Miami and is no nearer a return to action.

The French winger posted cryptic comments on social media site Instagram this week, hinting that he was out of favour with the claret and blues.

But Lambert insists N’Zogbia’s exile is purely because his recovery has yet to reach the stage where he is fit enough for the tempo of first-team training.

Asked if N’Zogbia was surplus to requirements like Darren Bent, Shay Given and Alan Hutton – collectively nicknamed the ‘Bomb Squad’ – Lambert said ‘No’.

“It’s just in my opinion he isn’t ready for training in the first team at the minute. It’s too much for him.

“Charles has been training with the kids. His injury is the same as Christian’s got. It’s really bad.

“He’s still really short of match fitness. You can do all the training you want, you can work with the fitness lads, but for this level of football you’ve got to get yourself up to top level.

“I don’t think he’s ready for anything like that at the minute.”

Lambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.

“He’s training but when you return to train with the first team it’s difficult because of the speed of it and the tempo of it,” he said.

“It can put you back if you’re not 100 per cent ready for anything.

“It’s not one of those ones where you can go ‘there you are Charles, you’re fit and you’re in’. It’s too far off.”

N’Zogbia has posted pictures on his Instagram site of him relaxing in foreign climes – but Lambert insists he has been reporting for training.

“Unless that was somewhere different I saw the other day, he’s here,” smiled Lambert.

“I don’t know if that (photograph) is old or whatever but he’s here. He’s training but he’s still not fit.

“It’s a long time to come back to fully playing football. Everybody’s body reacts differently to how they can come back from it.”

Lambert has been pleased with the attitude of the £9.5 million former Wigan favourite, who has two years left on his Villa contract.

“It has to be right, for every player,” he added.

“You’ve got to put the graft in or else you don’t come back. Charles is putting the work in and that’s a big thing.

“If you don’t put the work in in the rehab then you’re cutting yourself short. He’s been fine on that.”

Jores Okore is making good progress with his rehabilitation from a cruciate ligament injury and could still return to action before the end of this season.

Lambert is also pleased with Libor Kozak’s recovery, but confirmed there is no chance of the Czech striker playing until next season.

“They’re doing all right,” added Lambert.

“Libor is doing well actually. He came off his crutches a few weeks ago which is really good.

“Kozak won’t be back this season. Okore is touch and go but he won’t be too far. He’s doing really well.”

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-paul-lambert-insists-6949312

Interesting, given that the father of the bloke who spoke to him posted on here about it.

[Steve67]

So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina? 

[Somniloquism]

Who is to say they don't?  When we hear someone has returned to light training, has anyone asked what that involves? 

[Matt Collins]

So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina? 

And be given shirt numbers 37, 38 and 39 whilst recuperating

[pauliewalnuts]

So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina? 

And be given shirt numbers 37, 38 and 39 whilst recuperating

By the time Benteke is back 'training' (playing frisbee with the Junior Supporters club) the bomb squad will be so big, we'll be forced to use hexadecimal for squad numbers.

[Chris Smith]

Who is to say they don't?  When we hear someone has returned to light training, has anyone asked what that involves? 

Making sure that they are all switched off when everyone has gone home.

[London Villan]

No, players coming back from long term injuries aren't given squad numbers...

[Phil from the upper holte]

Lambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.

Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training

[dekko]

Lambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.

Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training

The thought had crossed my mind too.  I guess Kozak's leg, Benteke's achilles and okore's Cruciate probably can't be blamed on the intensity of training sessions, but it would explain why so many players seem to pick up little strains and knocks.

[stubbsyandy]

Who is to say they don't?  When we hear someone has returned to light training, has anyone asked what that involves? 

Making sure that they are all switched off when everyone has gone home.

Chuckle...

[Concrete John]

Lambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.

Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training

The thought had crossed my mind too.  I guess Kozak's leg, Benteke's achilles and okore's Cruciate probably can't be blamed on the intensity of training sessions, but it would explain why so many players seem to pick up little strains and knocks.

I remember thinking something similar under Houllier when he instigated double training sessions and then we had half the team out with little knocks and niggles.

[not3bad]

I simply don't believe anything Lambert says when it comes to N'Zogbia.

[aj2k77]

Lambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.

Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training

You have to be extremely fit to chase a ball around for 90 minutes like we try to do.

[adrenachrome]

So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina? 

And be given shirt numbers 37, 38 and 39 whilst recuperating

By the time Benteke is back 'training' (playing frisbee with the Junior Supporters club) the bomb squad will be so big, we'll be forced to use hexadecimal for squad numbers.

Nice. Who will get the dreaded FF shirt?