Senegal Omit Star Strikers From Olympic Squad

With the Olympics only weeks away now, the national squads are beginning to be announced. As we found out earlier this week, the club will not be represented in the Great Britain U23 side. We heard rumours that Ryan Taylor and possibly Danny Simpson would be included in the home nation squad but, on a more sympathetic level, we were disappointed to see them left out.

But the two west-African’s were fully expected to represent Senegal in accordance with the 3 overage-players rule. However now, because of Pardew’s supposed complaints, they have been left out. 

The reason why the club will feel so relieved is that they will now be able to take part in pre-season. The Olympic tournament runs throughout the pre-season fixture schedule, and to have a disjointed squad would only make preperations difficult. 

Pardew said early on this week, “It’s awkward because we want to prepare for a difficult season ahead of Europa League and Premier League games.”

The highly-rated frontmen are already due to head off for the Africa Cup of Nations duty in January, with the Magpies set to see them miss a crucial period of the Premier League season. So, to have them for this early part of the season, I suppose, is something to make the most of.

Everton’s Magaye Gueye and West Ham’s Mohamed Diame will instead represent Senegal as their two overage players.

What do you think?