Best out for season

Best out for season

Newcastle striker Leon Best has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

The 24-year-old has made 11 appearances this campaign, scoring a hat-trick in United’s 5-0 win over West Ham on January 5 and also scored in the side’s 4-4 draw with Arsenal on February 5.

The ankle injury has kept him out of Newcastle’s last two league games, and the club has now confirmed Best will undergo surgery on the complaint that will rule him out for the rest of the season.

The injury is a bitter blow for Best, who is looking to establish himself at St James’ Park and fill the void left by the sale of star striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

“Newcastle United can today confirm that Leon Best will undergo an operation on his injured ankle on Friday, and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season,” a club statement said.

Best and teammate Stephen Ireland were involved in controversy last month for going to a nightclub on the eve of the club’s 4-0 thrashing by Stoke on March 19, although both were ruled out of the match with injury.