Basketball: Eagles fly high with third win in a row

Apr 13 2008 Sunday Sun

CHARLES SMITH watched his title-winning team-mates chalk up a third overtime win on the bounce at Milton Keynes on Friday.

And he then delivered the news every Newcastle fan wanted to hear by revealing he will be back to boost the Eagles’ play-off push.

The Prince has been sidelined for six weeks with a knee injury which threatened to cut short a landmark campaign.

But barring any setbacks in the next 48 hours, Smith will return to full training at the end of the week with one eye on Newcastle’s April 25 play-off quarter-final.

“I haven’t started taking part in full training yet, but I’ve been cleared to do some light running in the last few days,” he said.

“The next step is to hit the floor and as long as everything goes to plan that should happen.

“Whether I play against Sheffield next Sunday will all depend on how the knee feels in four or five days.

“It could be useful to play a few minutes, but there’s no point risking a setback before the play-offs.

“I haven’t done anything, apart from some upper body weight work, for six weeks now.

“That’s a long time to be out and it’s not just my knee which is out of condition now.

“But my target has always been to make the play-offs and I’ve got almost two weeks to get myself into shape for the quarter-finals.

“I’ll speak to the doctor a few days before the game and hopefully he’ll give me the go-ahead.”

Smith has been a frustrated spectator as Newcastle have romped to a second league title in three seasons . . . losing just four championship games along the way.

But the big American has been able to focus on getting fully fit and throwing his weight behind a dream double.

“The guys have done an excellent job in my absence,” he added. “They’ve made it easy on me because there’s been absolutely no pressure on me to rush back.

“What they have achieved is incredible and it’s been a joy to watch.”

Smith was Newcastle’s most prolific scorer prior to his injury and is keen to open talks on a new contract with the Eagles.

“It’s possible I’ll play another season at Newcastle next year,” he told Eagle Eye.

“I’d love to stay . . . who wouldn’t?”