Sport

Best sidelined for several weeks with knee ligament injury

NEWCASTLE HAVE confirmed striker Leon Best is facing several weeks on the sidelines as he recovers from a knee ligament injury…

Thu Feb 09 2012 - 00:00

NEWCASTLE HAVE confirmed striker Leon Best is facing several weeks on the sidelines as he recovers from a knee ligament injury.

The 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international damaged his knee in a first-half block tackle with Stephen Warnock during Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa. A club statement said: “Newcastle United can today confirm that Leon Best has sustained medial ligament damage to his left knee. The striker was forced off in the early stages of Sunday’s home victory over Aston Villa having picked up an injury while trying to get a shot away.

“After being assessed by the club’s medical staff, Best underwent a scan on Tuesday and will be out for a number of weeks.”

Meanwhile, Ex-England footballer Paul Merson has been given a 14-month driving ban after a court heard how he crashed his Mercedes into a 38-tonne truck while over the legal alcohol limit.

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Leamington Spa Magistrates’ Court was told the former Arsenal and Aston Villa star, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, fell asleep at the wheel on the M40. Merson, who suffered a head injury in the accident last October, was fined £1,500 (€1,790) and ordered to pay £105 (€125) in costs and a £15 (€18) victim surcharge.

Magistrates heard that the Sky Sports pundit was driving to his home in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, after having “a few drinks” at a charity event in London. Merson’s Mercedes ML350 struck the rear of the heavy goods vehicle, damaging its rear lights and under-run bars, at about 3.15am on October 12th.

Prosecutor Philippa Cowley said Merson, who was among several people who called the police, failed a roadside breath-test and was later found to have 124mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood – the legal limit is 80mg.

Merson (43) was standing on the hard shoulder when two police constables arrived at the scene, said Ms Cowley. “It was clear he had got a head injury and he was very frank with the police,” the lawyer told the court. “He said that he had fallen asleep and had been at a charity do for children and had had a few drinks.”