Chris Hughton spoilt for choice up front

Aug 2 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton says he is spoilt for choice up front after encouraging starts to the pre-season by Leon Best and Xisco.

Best’s equaliser in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven was a second pre-season goal for a player who had previously failed to find the net since joining from Coventry City in January. Hughton has also been encouraged by the return of fellow striker Xisco, whose Newcastle career seemed to have been written off last season.

Xisco’s signing from Deportivo La Coruña was one of the tipping points which forced Kevin Keegan’s departure in September 2008, and the Spaniard never really recovered.

He was loaned to Racing Santander last season but, with no takers for him, has returned to St James’ Park. Xisco came off the bench on Saturday to underline Newcastle’s attacking strength in depth.

Hughton, who admitted to making little contact with the player last term, said: “Xisco has been good in pre-season.

“He has come back in good shape and he is our player. What we have are six strikers who have all been fit in pre-season.

“It has been a case of shifting them around to give them the minutes they need.

“We have ended up playing Nile Ranger on the right of midfield, and he did not figure on Saturday because he had played for the reserves the previous night.”

Xisco has also been shunted wide to get his chance.

Hughton added: “It is an unfamiliar position for Xisco on the left.

“We want to make sure we make the most of him.

“The difficulty for him is he is playing in a position where we have a lot of options. All he can do is to force the decision. He is older now. When he came in it was a difficult period for him.

“Sometimes coming here with other strikers in front of you, you don’t get a real rhythm.”

With Andy Carroll, Peter Løvenkrands and Shola Ameobi, plus the option of Kevin Nolan, Hughton is not short of alternatives up front.

He said: “We are able to pick players for certain games.”