Newcastle chairman: We'll do anything to help Real Madrid's Woodgate

Newcastle United are willing to help Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate in his rehab from leg injury.
 
Woodgate and Real have rubbished reports that he is considering retirement after breaking down in training earlier this week. Woody, indeed, completed a session without problem yesterday at Real's training HQ.

However, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has made an open invitation to Woody should his rehab run into problems.

"I'm shocked and sad to hear this," Shepherd told the Evening Chronicle before yesterday's denial by Real of Woodgate's breakdown.

"But I can tell Woody that there will always be a place for him at St James' Park. We will do anything we can for him - and I mean anything."

"Obviously there will be all sorts of complications, compensations and insurances to sort out, but if his contract is cancelled and he is able to, we will bring him back here without any pressure and we will do all we can for him."

"When he signed for Real Madrid he asked us to keep his number six black-and- white shirt ready for him and it will always be there. He has not played for Real Madrid but to be fair to them they have never once complained to us."