Hughton say squad are ready for festivities

Nov 12 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

United have Simpson until January but the short-term deals for Zurab Khizanishvili and Marlon Harewood will expire after Christmas – leaving United potentially two men down for the visit of Derby on December 28.

However, Hughton is happy that the terms of both loans mean that he will only be missing them for one game of what is always viewed as a potentially pivotal week of the season.

“We are fortunate because the loan deals we have in place for Zurab Khizanishvili and Marlon Harewood take us until after Christmas so we don’t have to worry about that too much and I think Danny Simpson is actually with us until January,” he said.

“As I understand it, the only game we will be without Zurab and Marlon is the

Derby match so hopefully it won’t cause us too many problems. That will take is up to the transfer window and we will see what happens then in terms of signings.”

One player that Hughton is now monitoring is former Spurs man Campbell – although the Newcastle United boss has sent out mixed messages over his desire to bring the former England defender to St James’s Park in recent weeks. Having previously ruled out a move for the veteran centre-back in the wake of his Notts County departure, Hughton now says that he is monitoring the availability of the 35-year-old.

Campbell is in a legal battle with his former club, who he claims are withholding his registration after he walked out of a five-year contract within weeks of signing it.

Not withstanding the problems that undermined his brief stint in League Two, Campbell would be a major asset for United if back to full fitness and in the right frame of mind.

“It’s one that I wouldn’t rule out,” said Hughton.

“He’s a player who will go somewhere at some stage, and he will get a lot of offers.

“But we won’t rule him out of coming here.

“I don’t expect him to go anywhere at the moment, but he will be playing somewhere. I don’t expect that to be until after Christmas.”