Chris Hughton warns NUFC players to maintain standards
Mar 13 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
“When you have a squad like ours, with the quality we have, I feel that, if we had more of those players available, for more of the season, then we wouldn’t be in the position we are in.
“So I feel it is a combination of factors, but we are in the position we are in. The league table doesn’t lie and there is only us that can get ourselves out of it.”
Nevertheless, having experienced a similar scare 12 months ago under Kevin Keegan, Hughton remains convinced Newcastle will get out of trouble.
He added: “There are parallels with what happened at this time last season. It was the Birmingham game that set us on our way to safety. We got players back fit as well at that particular time and we changed our shape a bit, so I do see parallels.
“If I look at where we are at the moment, we gave gone through a poor spell regarding results and we need a spark like that again.
“It’s an anxious time and we would find ourselves in a similar position to the teams around us. At a time like this, this is when you need players to step up to the plate and the only place they can show that is on the pitch.”
HULL defender Michael Turner is excited about his future at the KC Stadium.
The highly-rated 25-year-old was rewarded for his impressive performances since last year’s promotion to the Premier League with a new four-year contract in January.
Turner has been tipped to win England honours and was linked with Manchester City and Liverpool earlier in the season, but he is confident Hull can match his ambitions.
Turner said: “It’s a long contract but it shows I’m committed to the club.
“I believe the club is going to be more successful and I want to be part of that.
“The club is going places. There’s a great manager, a great fan base, a great stadium. The people here want to take the club places.
“You look at the players we’ve signed – Jimmy Bullard, Geovanni, Bernard Mendy.
“It’s great for the players who have been here a while to see people of that calibre coming in.
“I’m sure that when we stay in this division, then there will be even more players coming in.”
