NEWCASTLE EAGLE’S battered stars will play through the pain barrier to bring glory to the Eagles in 2008. That’s the defiant message from injured playcaller Fab Flournoy as the league leaders close in on rebel Richard Midgley’s replacement. Newcastle were down to the bare bones as they edged a fascinating BBL Trophy fixture against Everton on Merseyside on Friday. But Flournoy revealed: “Everyone is pulling their weight and putting in an extra shift to see us through a really rough spell. “Jeremy Hyatt played against Everton without a day’s practice for weeks, I’m playing at around 50 per cent and Andrew Bridge is no better than 75 per cent. “But the morale and the desire in the camp is so strong that we’re coming together in a crisis and still carving out the results. “If any one of us isn’t physically 100 per cent fit come tip-off then we’ll still give 100 per cent in terms of effort and that’s all I can ask. “We rolled up in Liverpool on Friday night after a nightmare coach journey and a 10-minute warm-up and still came away with the win. “That says everything about the spirit in the camp and it will serve us well in the next few weeks.” Flournoy and Newcastle chief Paul Blake have spent the weekend putting the finishing touches to the capture which could make or break the Eagles’ season. The club is close to completing the signing of an unnamed 6ft 4in guard with a Danish passport. And if paperwork is completed on time then a home court debut at the Metro Radio Arena on Friday is on the cards. “He’s a player who will fit into our system perfectly and he’s versatile enough to take the heat of any one of us at any given time,” added Flournoy. “You never know how things will work out with a new player coming in mid-season, but we’ve done our homework here and all the signs are positive. “It will be great to have another body on board as we enter the New Year and we’re on course for success.” Midgley was in fine form from outside the arc against his former club, hitting three from four from three-point range. But Newcastle denied the Team GB star his dream result thanks to some cool work down the stretch from forward Lynard Stewart. And the Eagles are suddenly in pole position to progress from their Trophy group after negotiation a potential banana skin in style. The visitors shrugged off the delayed tip-off and limited warm-up to trail by just three after the first period. And Flournoy’s men had opened up a 54-51 lead at the half as the three-peat playoff champions began to turn the screw. A devastating 35-16 quarter in Newcastle’s favour blew the game wide open and although the Tigers rallied, the seemingly narrow99-94 win was never in doubt. | 
