Newcastle manager Alan Pardew had hoped that an injury sidelining defender Jose Enrique wouldn't be disclosed until right before Tuesday's Premier League game against Tottenham.But more than four hours before kickoff, the Spanish defender wrote in broken English on Twitter: "Sorry lads i have a test this morning and we decide is better dont play. ... Im so hungry because this game is nice to play. ... My hamstring is so stiff today."
Pardew, whose team lost 2-0, now wants his his players to withhold such revelations from social networking accounts. He acknowledges, however, that "it's difficult to police" and he won't impose an outright ban.
"I got a text message that the press knew," Pardew said. "Did he tweet it, did he? It's something as a club we need to look at. Players can't be giving that sort of information out. ... We need to make it as a club policy that it has to stop."
Asked if Enrique would be ready for Sunday's match against West Ham, Pardew cracked: "I'll check his tweet."
He may have been a bit late. Enrique already provided an update for his more than 5,000 followers.
"Im sure is ok for sunday because is just stiff nothing worse," he tweeted. "Thanks everyone for your support."
Pardew's annoyance must have reached Enrique. The messages were subsequently deleted from his feed.
"Sorry i want to delete twetter just get me problems," he explained on his feed. (sportsillustrated)