One of the real success stories on Tyneside this season has been the return to fitness and form of Kieron Dyer after eighteen months out through injury. After an agonizing few months at the beginning of the season when manager Glenn Roeder held him back – to ensure his complete fitness – he has played magnificently for the Magpies with no sign of his old injury problems.

Credit for this has to go first of all to the player himself, to Glenn Roeder and his staff - and to the Newcastle United club - who never gave up on Kieron - even when he was in the depths of despair.

Indeed Glenn Roeder has handled the situation superbly by allowing Kieron to get away from the club and recover his fitness down south – so he didn’t get too despondent by seeing the players training and being asked all the time by well meaning Newcastle fans when he would be back.

This has not only been great news for Newcastle but also good news for England and it was nice to see Dyer return to the England scene last month, after a two year absence, to play the full game against Spain.

Dyer has what has become a major advantage in the game – the skill to run at a player with speed and full control of the ball – it scares the living daylight out of defenders – particularly those who are slow of foot.

Some fans are now saying it would be a good time for Newcastle to cash in on Dyer – but I don’t think so.

Kieron has come through hell and high water these last few years and has been backed 100% by the club so why would he want to leave?

He owes Newcastle a lot and he is well aware of that.

Newcastle have had to be patient with a top player who has been injury prone over the eight years since Ruud Gullit signed him for $6M in July, 1999.
Dyer though has just turned 28 last December and still has the best years of his football career in front of him.

This has been a success story on both sides – for Newcastle by completely supporting the player - and for Dyer himself - who has shown immense courage and fortitude during very difficult times.

During this time of adversity Dyer has matured from a somewhat misguided youngster, with several well documented disciplinary problems, into a man. He now has to maintain that personal maturity and surely will play several more years with the Magpies. Maybe Newcastle will even win something with Kieron Dyer being a major contributor.

Now wouldn’t that be something!!