Shola Ameobi is a quality act, says Hughton

Aug 17 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton paid tribute to the quality of hat-trick hero Shola Ameobi – as he admitted he’d be prepared to stay on as boss until the end of the season if required.

Hughton notched the first home win of his three spells as United caretaker boss with a terrific, Shola Ameobi-inspired 3-0 victory over Reading.

And United’s caretaker boss, who insists he has been told “nothing” about a prospective move to bring Joe Kinnear back to the club, felt that the win was an illustration that the players have bonded during a tough summer. “I’d agree that there has been a bit of togetherness in adversity,” he said. “There’s different stories each day re the club, players and players who’ve left the club. The players here at the moment are doubly determined to ensure we have a good team spirit and they’ve been excellent in doing that and that’s something we must explain.

“I was delighted with the performance, the win and the quality shown by Shola Ameobi.

“There’s no doubt he’s a good player and he showed his quality against Birmingham. It’s well documented that his form has been up and down here at times and, of course, he’s had some injury problems, but there’s no doubt about his quality. We’re getting used to every day somebody being mentioned (leaving) in the Press but there’s been no interest in him that I know of. There’s no doubt that he had a big (hip) operation and an unusual one in footballing terms that hindered his progress.

“But I can only speak for the period of time I’ve been here. We’ve experienced a team that didn’t do well enough to stay in the Premier League and Shola falls into that category the same as everybody else. His form was up and down last season.” Hughton’s Newcastle are now unbeaten in the first two games of the Championship season – a run that may influence Mike Ashley’s thinking if he opts to take the club off the market.

With Ameobi raising the possibility of Hughton and assistant Colin Calderwood taking the job until the end of the season, it is not a scenario as implausible as it once was.

“I’d be happy to do this job for as long as I’m asked to do it,” Hughton said. “As for Joe (Kinnear) coming back – I haven’t heard anything. I’ve spoken to him because I worked with him and he had an operation of course, it’s normal I’d ring him to see how he is.

“I certainly haven’t been told anything to that effect (that he’s coming back). I have spoken to him, asked him how things are and he’ll ask how things are here. But I’ve most definitely not spoken to David O’Leary.”