Recently by Mark Douglas
NEWCASTLE United boss Chris Hughton believes Danny Guthrie will go from strength to strength in his new central midfield role - as he backed him to maintain his newly-discovered goal threat.
Since moving into the centre and disrupting Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith's grip on the midfield engine room, Guthrie has been a revelation, adding creativity to an area that has been solid if unspectacular this season.
Nolan and Smith were the first-choice central pairing for most of the early part of the season but after injuries forced a re-think on Hughton's part, Guthrie flourished in the rout of Barnsley.
CHRIS Hughton hailed his wing wonders for helping Newcastle United to put their nervous week behind them.
After two disappointing away games Newcastle returned to the top of the Championship with an impressive 4-1 victory over Coventry City.
Last night's home victory featured an impressive display from new signing Wayne Routledge - who equalised Clinton Morrison's goal with a terrific volley to cap a fine display.
CHRIS Hughton has reaffirmed his desire to turn Newcastle United into a free-flowing, attacking side again - just so long as they retain the resilience that has seen them set the Championship promotion pace.
United are back at St James' Park to take on Coventry City tonight in their first home game since the scintillating 5-1 demolition of Cardiff.
That contest was notable for United's attacking abandon as the naturally conservative Hughton sent out a team with two quick wingers to supply the bullets for Andrew Carroll and substitute Peter Løvenkrands to run riot.
CHRIS Hughton has rebuffed talk of handing top scorer Kevin Nolan a break from the punishing Championship promotion race - insisting he has not even thought about dropping the midfielder.
Nolan has been a key member of Hughton's table-topping side but both Hughton and the player himself admitted he was somewhat out of sorts as Newcastle snatched a largely undeserved point at Swansea.
The 27-year-old has played more times than any other member of Hughton's squad this season and some put his diminished influence down to the inevitable wear of tear that follows a second tier schedule that regularly throws up two games in the space of a week.
Pointing to Opta statistics that show Nolan covered just as much ground as he had done earlier in the season, Hughton rejected that talk and put Saturday's performance down to a "bad day at the office". The former Bolton man looks set to be named in the team to face Coventry tomorrow night - and the Newcastle boss reckons he could prove a match winner again.
PETER Løvenkrands has been handed further motivation to fire Newcastle United into the Premier League after being told he is still in Denmark's thinking for the World Cup finals.
Løvenkrands, who is still mourning the death of his father Bent, is back in contention for Friday's promotion six-pointer against Cardiff City and has been offered encouragement by the Danish national team management about his chances of forcing his way into their plans for South Africa.
The 30-year-old has not represented his country since coming off the bench in a 4-0 defeat of Liechtenstein in September 2007, but is one of around 50 players being monitored by national team manager Morten Olsen.
CHRIS Hughton has declared Newcastle United's January recruitment drive a "success" - insisting that all of his new recruits have the potential to become established Premier League players.
United brought their business to a close by signing Coventry City's pacey forward Leon Best yesterday for an undisclosed fee believed to be a around £500,000, as well as finally selling Geremi to Turkish side Ankaragucu.
The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland signed a three-and-a-half year contract following the permanent deals for Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson and Wayne Routledge - all of whom have substantial experience in the second tier.
CHRIS Hughton expects to have added another striker to his Newcastle United squad before today's transfer deadline after missing out on Victor Moses - but faces a battle to prise James Vaughan from Everton.
Crystal Palace striker Moses joined Wigan yesterday in a £2.5million deal that represents a huge disappointment for United, who were confident on Friday that they had done enough to sign the 19-year-old from the cash-strapped south London club.
United managing director Derek Llambias and boss Hughton had been told the player's preferred choice was to join Newcastle but the club would not stump up Palace's asking price and he opted for Wigan instead.
NEWCASTLE United have been told they must raise their bid to more than £2million if they want to land Crystal Palace wonder-kid Victor Moses.
United lodged an offer of £1.5million for the teenager following their 2-0 defeat of Palace on Wednesday but were told that the South London club's administrators want in excess of £2million for the 19-year-old, who has become one of the hottest properties inthe Football League this season.
The administrators believe they have a strong bargaining hand with United's promotion rivals Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion also in the hunt for Moses, who has become a viable target after Palace were put into administration earlier this week.
ALAN Smith has warned that it will be 'Newcastle United against the world' in the second half of the season.
The combative skipper played through the pain of a facial injury in the controversial fourth round defeat at the Hawthorns.
But he admits United were left seething by the refereeing decisions which ultimately cost them their FA Cup place. Referee James Linington denied penalties to Ryan Taylor and Shola Ameobi, while Smith himself was targeted by the West Brom crowd as a heated Cup tie threatened to boil over in the second half.
NEWCASTLE boss Chris Hughton has hailed the "Championship pedigree" of Portsmouth defender Mike Williamson as he closes in on his second signing of the January transfer window.
Williamson was negotiating personal terms with United last night after the club had a £1m offer accepted and a deal could even be pushed through this afternoon for a player who has been a long-term Hughton target.
United were also considering a bid for Sheffield Wednesday's young defender Mark Beevers but moved quickly for Williamson after becoming aware of interest from his former club Watford. Williamson is understood to be keen on a move to United after a long period of inactivity at Fratton Park, where he is yet to make his debut. His lack of first-team appearances is believed to relate to payments cash-strapped Portsmouth would be due to pay if he played.
Recent Comments
"Martins, Beye & Bassong - feels like eternity has passed since they played for Newcastle! Let's jus..."
""We'll never know if Shearer would have done a job as good (as) Hughton - or better or worse this se..."
"Thank God there is only one Hughton. We are top in spite of and not because of him. Butt and Guthrie..."
"why sign a player like leon best and leave him on the bench for seventy minutes,give the lad a chanc..."
"Why play with a lone striker away from home and ask teams to attack you when you know your strenth i..."
"Happy New Year!!! Beckford in should be good news... I'm surprised there is not much gossip about No..."
"Sam Allardyce was sacked because he could not pick a team to be Derby.....now we have CH picking Lov..."
"I don't believe a word that lamear*e & fat tw*t say. The sooner they sell up and get lost the better..."
"im sorry like but my eyes must have fell out of my head when i watched the barnsley game! when did w..."
"He's well and truly over the hill,havn't we had enough of that in the past??some fools will never le..."