Hughton keeping his fingers crossed for Stoke match

Mar 26 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

AFTER a rare bit of good news on the injury front, caretaker manager Chris Hughton is hoping Newcastle United’s luck does not run out during the international break.

Hopes are growing that Steven Taylor will be fit to face Stoke City on April 11 in what threatens to be a crucial match in United’s fight against relegation.

With no fixture until Chelsea’s visit on April 4, the likes of Danny Guthrie, Habib Beye, Michael Owen and Kevin Nolan have a much-needed opportunity to rediscover some of the sharpness lost during their recent absences through injury and suspension.

Hughton is also hopeful Mark Viduka and Joey Barton might make their comebacks in the coming weeks.

But with Damien Duff, Geremi, Jonás Gutiérrez, Obafemi Martins and Andy Carroll called up by their countries, the international break also raises the possibility of more names being added to the Magpies’ injury list by the time Guus Hiddink’s men arrive on Tyneside.

“We have very important players away this week – the likes of Damien Duff, Jonás, Oba, Geremi,” Hughton reflected. “At a time when we’re starting to get players back, the last thing we want is to lose anyone.”

Geremi is part of the Cameroon squad to face Togo on Saturday, and Hughton could be forgiven for wishing Martins had not patched up his stormy relationship with the Nigerian footballing authorities. As a result, the striker will spend the weekend in Mozambique.

Duff’s Republic of Ireland face Bulgaria in Dublin at the weekend, before travelling to Italy for Wednesday’s game. Gutiérrez’s Argentina host Venezuela before playing in Bolivia on Tuesday.

Carroll is in the England Under-20 squad to take on their Italian counterparts at Loftus Road that night.