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Perez: I was letting my teammates down v Brighton

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Image for Perez: I was letting my teammates down v Brighton

Newcastle United attacker Ayoze Perez has said that he felt he was letting his teammates down against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

The Spaniard was withdrawn around the half hour mark due to a hip problem having earlier put his side into the lead in their 1-1 draw with the Seagulls.

He was brutally honest about the incident after the game: “I got injured a couple of minutes before the goal,” he said, as per the Liverpool Echo’s news and transfer centre [28/04; 17:10]. “I tried to carry on as long as possible, but I couldn’t even sprint. I was letting my teammates down, so that’s not good.

“I asked for the substitution. It’s very sore at the minute, but it’s just a kick. Hopefully in a couple of days, it gets better. I tried to stay on the pitch – I wanted to. I need to make sure now I’m ready, I’m fit for the next one.”

OPINION

You have to say that Perez is being extremely harsh on himself, here. Yes, he was clearly compromised after tussling with Brighton centre back Shane Duffy, but there was no way he was letting anyone down in the first half on Saturday. Even while barely being able to move properly he still fired the Magpies ahead with a phenomenal drive from inside the box. He really took his goal well – and that came after he first picked up his injury. So he certainly wasn’t letting his teammates down when he smashed the ball home. Still, it was the right decision for him to ask to be brought off. There was no point him continuing at this stage of the season and risking a serious injury. He simply didn’t need to do that and so it made sense for Kenedy to replace him. Obviously his team missed his cutting edge, particularly considering how ineffectual the Brazilian was, but still Perez made the right choice to come off the pitch.

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