Newport County player Kevin Ellison is to miss the next two months after an assault at a players’ Christmas night out last weekend.
The alleged assault took place in Bristol, with the 42 year old Liverpool-born having to require surgery on facial injuries as a result of the incident.
“Kevin was attacked at the weekend and sustained facial injuries which will leave him out for a period of time,” said Newport boss James Rowberry.
Kevin Ellison suffers facial injuries after being attacked on Newport County night outhttps://t.co/20lCUCljjh pic.twitter.com/smR8PIAVlM
— Mirror EFL (@MirrorEFL) December 17, 2021
Ellison has reported the incident to the police and Rowberry says the matter is now “under investigation”.
Avon and Somerset Police have been asked for a comment on the alleged incident.
Rowberry said he was now planning for the League Two midfielder to be missing for “six to eight weeks” and continued to say that: “Kevin is OK. I have spoken to him every other day and he is now in the safe hands of our medical team.
“He will still play a part from a coaching perspective. He is someone I lean on for his experience and so do the players. With regards to his input and his influence around the building, that will still be there.”
The Exiles manager also made it clear he had no problems with the players having a night out.
“It wasn’t a case I organised it for them. They have gone out and I have no problem with that,” Rowberry went on.
“You talk about team bonding and team togetherness I have no issue with it at all.
“They can do what they do outside of football, they have private lives. I respect that and they respect the boundaries they live within from the guidelines set. I have no doubt that was the case and I trust them implicitly.”
Ellison signed for Newport in September 2020 and has gone on to make over 700 league appearances during a professional career which began 20 years ago.
Newport currently sit fourth in the fourth tier and will be without striker Alex Fisher for Saturday’s game at Rochdale, as he is awaiting the outcome of a Covid PCR test. Scott Bennett is also ruled out with an injury.
In the meantime, Aston Villa’s Finn Azaz spoke with the media, saying that he is learning from Ellison.
The 21-year-old midfielder switched from West Brom to Villa in the summer and quickly went out on loan to become a key figure for the Welsh outfit.
Azaz was six months old when Ellison made his Premier League appearance for Leicester against Manchester United at Old Trafford on March, 2001.
Fast forward 20 years they are now teammates with Ellison coming on for Azaz in the final minutes last Saturday with the loanee pulling out a wonder goal against Port Vale which ended up being the winner.
The prospect is in his second season as a professional footballer and is learning from a man who has spent decades in the EFL.
Azaz said: “Me and Dom were speaking about this and it’s just a privilege to be able to learn from a legend, although I’d never say that to his face!
“It’s unbelievable to learn from Kev, I have come in and have decided to just ask him questions and try to copy stuff that he does.
“He does yoga, swimming, healthy eating, everything he possibly can to maintain his health and fitness.
“He’s an inspiration, you wonder how he has managed to maintain it but when you are there you can see how because he does things differently to other players.”
Fancy footwork followed by a fabulous finish from @finnazaz 🔥#EFLonQuest – Tonight at 9pm #EFL @NewportCounty #NCAFC #OneClubOneCounty
Stream free on demand with @discoveryplusUK: https://t.co/5BVoLkNVTM pic.twitter.com/4Qy9Cge4Pe
— Quest (@QuestTV) December 11, 2021
“In pro football it’s probably the best goal I’ve scored,” said Azaz, who also hit a wonderful drive from distance against Stevenage.
“I am happy with the goal but the team performance was ridiculous all over the park against a team higher than us in the league. It was so good, we were really dominant.
“It was a tough week and we went behind in both games against Sutton and Port Vale, so the wins showed our character. We pulled each other through it.”
Social media users reacted with Kevin Ellison to miss two months after an assault at the players’ Christmas night out last weekend…
Jon Davies: Oh gawd. I suppose if I’d had to bet a fiver on trouble finding one County player on the Christmas do I’d be in the money right now. That’s not meant as a slight on KE, of whom I’m a fan.
Paul Hardee: All the best to K E and a speedy recovery
Jonathan Belcher: Why let the players go out at this time it’s only getting worse and we certainly don’t want any postponed games
Mark Heal: There still human and got lives themselves
Jason Richard King: Ffs can’t go out anywhere nowadays. Hope Kev best wishes 🖤🧡
Cody Short: Oh. My. God 😡
Paul Harrison: You really don’t want to be messing with a man like Kevin like
Deborah Fleming: Omg how awful, what is wrong with these people. Get better soon Kev xx
Mark Mathias: Get better soon Kevin.
Robert Cain: If its found that he caused the problem by something he said or done we should withhold his wages or fine !
Paul Young: get well soon kev.
Christopher Pearce-Webb: That’s terrible, speedy recovery Kev
Andrew Brain: Was Joey Barton in town?
Bill Shaw: Where were his teammates??
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