Chris Hughton happy as Calderwood turns down Tranmere job

Oct 27 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

Meanwhile, the Football Association will today consider the Magpies’ appeal over Zurab Khizanishvili’s weekend red card, despite United having no qualms about the decision itself.

The Georgian was sent off for violent conduct after an off-the-ball incident in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Doncaster Rovers. A club statement on the matter read: “While not disputing the validity of the referee’s decision, Newcastle United are of the opinion that the offence does not warrant the standard three-game suspension.”

Red cards for violent conduct receive minimum three-match bans and while they can sometimes be lengthened for more serious offences, they are rarely – if ever – reduced.

If Newcastle fail in their appeal Khizanishvili will miss the upcoming matches against Sheffield United, Peterborough and Preston.

The defender, on loan from Blackburn Rovers, has had little match practice this season, and would not get any more until November 28, when United host Swansea City.

But the easing of the fixture list in that time will be of benefit to the Championship leaders, who are in the midst of a central defensive crisis.

Their only other two senior specialists in the position are Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini, and even on-loan right-back Danny Simpson, who had been deputising, missed the Doncaster game with an ankle injury. But Newcastle’s next game is not until Monday thanks to television coverage, and Hughton is confident Simpson will be fit to line up against Sheffield United.

“Danny had a slight problem at the weekend but he should be back in training by the middle of the week,” Hughton told his club’s official website. “If everything goes okay then he’ll be available for Monday night.”

Whether Taylor and Coloccini will be back from hamstring and groin problems respectively remains to be seen.