Hughton confident selling of NUFC players has ended

Aug 29 2009 The Journal

CHRIS Hughton is “very confident” the Newcastle United firesale has ended, but the interim manager’s luck seems to have run out with regards to injuries.

Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Claudio Caçapa, David Edgar, Peter Løvenkrands, Ignacio Gonzalez, Obafemi Martins, Sebastién Bassong, Habib Beye and Damien Duff have all left St James’s Park in the transfer window.

Joey Barton, Nicky Butt, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Jonás Gutiérrez, Tim Krul, Xisco, Alan Smith and Steven Taylor continue to be linked with transfers, and Bolton manager Gary Megson has gone public with his interest in Kevin Nolan. Yesterday Hughton was more positive than at any time during his third caretaker spell that the exodus is over, but with fears that Gutiérrez and Shola Ameobi could be out for a month, the need for reinforcements is pressing.

“It would be wrong of me to say it would be an impossibility anybody could leave, but I would be very confident – very confident – of keeping what we have. Very confident,” said Hughton. “I certainly don’t think there have been the offers that have been put around (in the media), that’s for sure.”

Gary Megson stated he would like Nolan back at Bolton on loan after the reinvigorated midfielder broke his Newcastle duck with goals in consecutive games this week, but Hughton is unaware of anything more concrete.

“What I’ve been told is there’s been no contact between the two clubs regarding Kevin Nolan,” he insisted. “I haven’t spoken to him (Nolan) about it.”

Hughton will not be able to breathe easily until 5pm on Tuesday, after which no further players can be sold in 2009.