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Former QPR Forward: Dougie Freedman - Grief-stricken Freedman to miss Warnock bow - By Sami Mokbel/Croydon Guardian
Dougie Freedman is likely to miss Crystal Palace's trip to Blackpool after his grandfather died this week.
The grief-stricken striker was due to travel up to the north-west for Neil Warnock's first game in charge - but is now set to miss out to attend his grandfather's funeral on Scotland on Friday.
But the understanding new Eagles chief says he will leave it up to the Scot to decide whether he wants to play on Saturday.
Warnock said: "Dougie said he might try and get a train down on Friday night - but I've left it up to him because family comes first." Report
Blackpool Gazette - Miracle man Evatt
IAN Evatt is making a remarkable return to fitness and is on course to be back on a football pitch six weeks ahead of schedule.
The Seasiders defender suffered ligament damage in his ankle, shin and knee when he fell awkwardly during last month's clash with Colchester.
Initial scans indicated he would be out of action until the new year.
But Evatt's progress has been so good that he has already resumed light training and is hoping to make a return next month.
Even manager Simon Grayson is shocked, dubbing his centre half 'Lazarus'.
Evatt told The Gazette: "I'm delighted because I don't like being injured and missing matches.
"It's very frustrating, especially when the team aren't winning.
"But knowing I'll be back soon has given me a massive boost. I'm working my socks off in the gym, going in every day and doing weights, having a session on the rower and swimming ... and I'm feeling good.
"I can jog and I even tried some proper running in training yesterday, though it's just a little too soon for that.
"But I'm stepping things up and all being well I'll be back sometime next month."
From the Bloomfield Road stands, it didn't appear Evatt had done too much damage when he suffered his injury in the September 22 draw with the U's.
But although it looked innocuous, the 25-year-old knew it wasn't.
"It felt like a bad injury," he explained. "I jumped to clear a ball, fell awkwardly and twisted my studs in the turf. I also heard a crack, which leaves you a bit scared about what might have happened.
"The results of the scan were much worse than we all thought. There was a lot of ligament damage – and in my shin and ankle too, which we didn't expect.
"At the time we thought I wouldn't be playing again till next year but my symptoms were never that bad.
"The physio Phil Horner had a feeling the scan might have been over-reported, so we went to see a specialist who had treated Michael Owen and Djibril Cisse.
"He agreed with Phil and told me I could be back in four to six weeks.
"I'm hoping I'll be right by November 19 – that's my birthday and it would be a nice present!" Blackpool Gazette
Ex-QPR Sammy Lee Axed as Bolton Manager- Lee's Career
Lee Cook Comeback at Christmas? Fulham Official Site -Cook Targets Comeback
The addition of highly-rated left winger, Lee Cook, to the Fulham ranks during the summer was certainly an eagerly anticipated move for both the player and Fulham fans. During his time at QPR Cook won the Young Player, Supporters’ Player and Players’ Player of the Year awards and was widely regarded as one of the most talented attackers outside the top flight.
Having undergone a routine clean-up operation on his knee towards the tail end of last season, the winger joined Fulham in the final stages of his rehabilitation. Unfortunately his recovery was set back at the last hurdle when a second procedure was required.
“He is progressing and we expect him to make a full recovery following surgery,” explained Head Physiotherapist, Jason Palmer. “At this point in time we’re hoping to have him back in some good, solid training work around the six week mark.”
As Cook told fulhamfc.com, his period on the sidelines has been a testing time but he is eager to finally put on the White shirt in competitive action.
“It’s been very frustrating,” he said, “now I’m getting some strength back and balancing up the muscles around my knee. Hopefully I’ll soon be able to get out there and start impressing people because that’s what you want to do when you sign for a new club – in that respect it’s been a nightmare so far.
“I’m not running outside yet which is frustrating because that’s how you get your main fitness levels up. But in the last couple of weeks I’ve been able to do things that I wasn’t able to do before. There is steady improvement and I’m hoping to start running outside within the next three weeks, then it will take a few more weeks to get fit.
“So I’ve said to myself that I want to be back to my old self, playing well and fully fit by Christmas and, fingers crossed, that’s what’s going to happen.” Fulham
Ex-Maurice Doyle Turns 38. Born October 17, 1969.
Signed by Trevor Francis from Crewe but never really emerged at QPR.
Thirty-Seven Years ago today: Andy McCulloch made his debut and scored as Rodney Marsh socred a Hatrick vs Birmingham (and the game was shown on "The Big Match" the next day!-
Andy McCulloch: Signed by Les Allen from non-league Walton & Hersham, Center forward Andy McCulloch made his debut in QPR's home game in place of Frank Saul vs Birmingham, October 17, 1970. Marsh got a brilliant hattrick as QPR won 5-2 vs a good Birmingham team. QPR's team that day: Parkes, Clement, Hazell, Watson, Gillard. Ferguson Venables Hunt Morgan Marsh McCulloch. (In their previous home game, a brilliant Martyn Busby playing up front had led QPR to a 5-1 at home to Orient.) McCulloch was eventually sold to Oxford for 45,000 pounds in 1972, and he became a prolific goalscorer in the lower leagues.