Impressive week for birthday boy Chris Hughton

Dec 12 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Chris Hughton’s birthday celebrations were as low-key as his management style. But he has had an impressive week, as Mark Douglas reports

CHRIS Hughton turned 51 yesterday, and he will have had few better birthday weeks than this one.

A seventh straight win, 12 points clear of the Championship’s chasing pack – but perhaps Hughton’s biggest victory of the last seven days was his understated but firm handling of Andy Carroll in the wake of his weekend arrest.

Hughton has quietly impressed most onlookers with the way he has facilitated United’s transition from relegated down-and-outs to Championship high-fliers, but this was the first big test of his response to a key squad member stepping out of line.

Carroll’s alleged indiscretion was unfortunate and unwise – and the fact that he was even out in the Bigg Market on a Sunday night was hugely depressing given the fine progress he has made on the pitch this season. But Hughton’s measured response hit the right note.

It may have been frustrating to hear the Newcastle manager faithfully applying a straight bat to press conference questions about such a serious disciplinary matter but he hit Carroll where it hurts – demoting him from the match day squad and effectively sending a message to the England under-21 striker that United will do just fine without him. It would have been nice to hear some words of caution or some acknowledgement that his behaviour was unacceptable, but that is not Hughton’s style. Fiercely loyal to his players, he believes the dressing room is a sanctuary and will not hang any of his squad out to dry in public. But that does not mean that Carroll has been let off the hook.

The forward, yet to be charged by the police, has been disciplined internally but whatever the fine it won’t have hurt him as much as seeing Shola Ameobi and then Nile Ranger – two years his junior – grabbing the glory in another fine United win.