Injury crisis strikes Newcastle Eagles with two-key players set to miss crucial fixtures

Newcastle Eagles’ head coach Marc Steutel will be at a cross-roads as two of his key players were injured over the weekend’s fixtures against the Bristol Flyers and Manchester.

Centre Malcolm Delpeche and Guard ‘’Money’’ Mike Okauru both suffered injuries that forced each of them out of the games.

Delpeche’s injury looked like a nasty one as his knee buckled backwards after he jumped up to catch a rebound on Friday against Bristol. The injury caused a stoppage mid-game and Delpeche laid in a heap on the court as medics managed to get him on a stretcher and escort him off.

Okaura, who averages a league high 20.4 points-per-game was forced off on Sunday against Manchester as he landed awkwardly on his ankle while driving to the basket.

The injury crisis comes at a crucial time of the season for the Eagles as they have a massive European North Basketball League (ENBL) matchup against the Bakken Bears in just over a week. Along with a massive run to the end of the domestic season where the chance of playoff basketball is still alive.

A time-frame and update on both of their health has not been given but you would assume that the injury to Delpeche will be a long-term issue that coach Steutel has to deal with.

The Eagles will now lack depth at the centre position as back-up Will Neighbour has had an injury plagued season only allowing him to make three appearances.

On the other hand, Okauru’s presence at the scoring end of the court will be an even bigger miss as he averaged 29.5 points-per-game in the month of February. Coach Steutel will need Seneca Knight, De’Sean Allen-EIkens, and Trey Pulliam to step-up to keep the momentum going until Okauru comes back from injury.