Chris Hughton is taking FA Cup seriously

Jan 13 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

IT has added one more game to an already punishing fixture list, but Chris Hughton is refusing to regard this season’s FA Cup as an unwanted distraction to this title-chasing players.

Nevertheless, the Magpies boss admits the weather that has ravaged the North East for almost a month has changed his thinking ahead of tonight’s FA Cup replay with Plymouth Argyle.

Hughton had been planning to treat tonight’s replay as he did the original game – an opportunity to rest key first-teamers, and give playing time to younger members of his squad. But with many of his leading lights still to play in 2010, and having had little or no outdoor training as a result of the snow and ice which have been a permanent feature of the region’s landscape since mid-December, he has had a change of heart.

Newcastle’s next Championship game is at home to West Bromwich Albion on Monday – exactly three weeks after the last. And Hughton does not want his top players suffering a lack of match fitness in a game which could be important in deciding who wins this season’s title.

“The fact we had the game called off on Saturday (Newcastle were due to play at Reading) and because we also have a few extra days until the West Brom game, it will have a bearing on the team we put out against Plymouth,” conceded Hughton.