Fabrice Pancrate is set to be fans' favourite

Nov 23 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United boss Chris Hughton believes that new signing Fabrice Pancrate has the potential to get the St James' Park faithful on their feet.

Pancrate has signed for United until the end of the season with an option to extend the deal beyond that if he manages to build on his early promise.

The club expect to hear this morning whether the 29-year-old’s registration has been passed in time to play a part against Preston tonight, although that would only be from the substitutes’ bench as he continues to build match sharpness.

With decent experience in France’s Ligue Une and obvious ability, he represents an inexpensive extra option for the United boss as he looks to maintain the club’s excellent start to life in the Championship.

And while he may not be the most high-profile signing of recent St James’ Park history, Hughton believes that he has managed to snare a bargain.

“I hope he can excite the fans, he certainly possesses that kind of quality. He gives us an option high up on the right hand side – he’s a really attacking player and it gives us an option similar to what we have on the left with Jonas Gutierrez,” he said.

“We have had right-sided midfielders playing in that position and they have done really well but he does give us another option if we’re looking to set our stall out in games. He has pedigree and he looks to get into goalscoring positions.

“He is an experienced boy, he has played in a couple of positions, can play up front and he has real pace as well so I think he is a good option for us to add.

“I don’t think that he will be fazed coming to play in the Championship and I don’t think that it will take him long to settle into the English game.”