Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle defends http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tom-Cleverley-c35218 injury
Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle offered support to the Trotters captain Kevin Davies, who has been the target of abuse over Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley’s injury. The 34-year-old http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 striker’s mistimed tackle during the last weekend’s English Premier League clash at the Reebok Stadium left the 22-year-old Manchester United man out for at least a month.
The tackle did not earn Davies a card for the offence, but the Red Devils were awarded a free kick for the offence. The Bolton Wanderers boss felt that the matter had been dragged on for too long and should be put to rest now, especially since Davies had apologized to Cleverley after the incident. Despite his apology, Davies’ wife has been subjected to abuse on Twitter by Manchester United fans.
Coyle said while speaking to reporters:
“The bottom line is Kevin Davies made a challenge on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tom-c35214 Cleverly which was a foul. That is all it was.
The boy picked up an injury and I think he is out for four weeks but it happens up and down the country every week.”
Coyle revealed that US international Stuart Holden had picked up an injury at Manchester United last season and has still not returned to the first team. The manager claimed that even though Holden’s injury was long-term, the Trotters had not made too much fuss about it, with the tackle earning http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonny-Evans-c19085 a red card at the time. He said the tackle was not malicious and should be forgotten.
Coyle continued:
“At the end of the day, Kevin made a challenge and the referee awarded a free-kick. That was it.”
This is not the first time Davies has come under criticism for his challenges, which are often a bit too physical and result in an injury. However, Coyle was convinced it was not intentional and was down to the fact that the English striker’s game was too physical. The Trotters’ boss felt that injuries were a part of the game and was surprised at the attention Cleverley’s ordinary injury had attracted.
Coyle revealed:
“There is no malice in Kevin Davies. He is a strong physical player but he never went to hurt the lad.
Injuries happen to every team, not just the elite. You have to move on and you know when the game is played at such a pace there will be challenges.”
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