Newcastle striker spared long trip before Sunderland clash
INTERNATIONAL CALL ... Newcastle United's Demba Ba.
DEMBA Ba has been spared a gruelling midweek trip to play for Senegal in a boost for Newcastle United.
The striker has not been called up for next Wednesday’s friendly against South Africa in Durban.
However, his Newcastle team-mate Papiss Demba Cisse is in the Lions of Teranga’s 23-man squad, and the 12,000-mile round trip is hardly ideal preparation for the Tyne-Wear derby.
Senegal’s fixture is sandwiched between Saturday’s home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers and the visit of Sunderland to Tyneside on March 4.
And United manager Alan Pardew will be relieved that leading scorer Ba has been spared a lengthy journey.
The game is Senegal’s first since their desperately disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign.
They didn’t get beyond the group stage, despite being the tournament’s third-favourites before a ball was kicked.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s Shane Ferguson’s in line to win his second Northern Ireland cap after being named in former United striker Michael O’Neill’s first squad.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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