Chris Hughton warns that NUFC squad is too small

Aug 26 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton will field some of his Newcastle United youngsters at St James’s Park tonight, but has warned the club’s hierarchy not to be lulled into thinking the squad is deep enough for a Championship season.

Tim Krul, Nile Ranger, Tamas Kadar, Kazenga LuaLua and Ryan Donaldson are all expected to play a part in the League Cup second-round clash against Huddersfield Town. Slovenian striker Haris Vuckic is also in the squad and the 17-year-old’s debut is not far away, though whether it will come against the Terriers remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, having lost 10 players this summer and with eight extra league games this season, Hughton believes he needs “two or three” additions in the unlikely event that no more players leave between now and the transfer window closing at 5pm on Tuesday. So far loan signing Danny Simpson has been the only new face.

Even with all the departures, United have fared well in the Championship, drawing one and winning their other three matches. Hughton, however, has been keen to stress for some time it is partly due to uncharacteristic luck with injuries.

“What has papered over (the cracks) is we’ve been very fortunate with injuries and haven’t really had more than two at any given time, which is very unusual,” he noted.

“Consequently we’ve been able to cope but there will be a time when that changes. We’re quite strong in midfield but we need possibly two or three new faces provided no-one else leaves.”

Joey Barton and Andy Carroll are the only absentees through injury tonight. The latter is expected to be fit for Monday’s televised game with Leicester City, but centre-forward Carroll may not return before the trip to Cardiff City on Spetember 12.

Hughton’s problem is he does not really know who to make his case to.