Jose Enrique came off only as precaution says Hughton

Mar 9 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton is hopeful José Enrique’s caution pays dividends after revealing the Spaniard did not pull his hamstring at the weekend.

Newcastle United’s only specialist left-back lasted just 33 minutes on his return from a seven-match lay-off before limping off complaining of another problem with the muscle. The decision proved to be a wise one, the Magpies romping to a 6-1 victory without him. And Hughton has revealed the substitution was nothing more than a precaution.

“I am hoping it is good news,” the United manager told his club’s official website. “What José did say as he was coming off was he hasn’t pulled it. He thought it was best to come off at that stage. It felt tight and what he didn’t want to do was get to the stage where he possibly might pull it, but we are hoping that’s not too bad.”

With Patrick van Aanholt having returned from a successful loan spell at Chelsea the previous week, Newcastle will be keen that Hughton’s optimism proves well-founded. With no midweek game, Enrique at least has extra time to recover ahead of Saturday’s game at Middlesbrough’s Riverside.

If the Spaniard fails to make it, central defender Tamas Kadar will be asked to deputise the day before his 20th birthday. The Hungarian has started just three league matches for the Magpies and Hughton concedes he remains something of an unknown quantity.

“Young Tamas Kadar came on (against Barnsley) and I know he played the majority of the game against 10 men, so perhaps he wasn’t under as much pressure as he would have been, but he did very well,” he added.