Chris Hughton is content with players he's got
Sep 1 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
CHRIS Hughton was happy to enjoy a quiet transfer deadline day as he shrugged off the disappointment at missing out on Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.
Hughton has admitted he did look into the possibility of signing a striker on a season’s loan, but he could not find anyone available who was better than what he already has at St James’s Park at the right price.
And, having initially worried he might not be able to strengthen his squad as much as he would like with a severely restricted budget, Hughton is delighted with his five additions.
With Sol Campbell making his first appearance for the Magpies in the reserves game against Sunderland last night, Newcastle have also welcomed James Perch, Dan Gosling, Cheik Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa over the summer – and Hughton thanked owner Mike Ashley for backing him.
He said: “I was content to have a quiet deadline day. I was still in my office all day because you are never entirely sure what is going to happen, but I am perfectly happy with what we’ve managed to do in the transfer window.
“I’m pleased with the players I’ve been able to sign and I feel I have got the targets I wanted in the areas that needed to be strengthened over the summer.
“The most important thing was we did the best we could in
the circumstances. Everyone had to be realistic about the financial situation. There wasn’t a lot of money spent by anyone really in this window, but we’ve managed to bring in some good players and I’ve pretty much done everything I wanted to do.
“I’ve been really pleased with the support I’ve been given by the owner to do what needed to be done before the window shut, but I’m relieved it has shut. It is a bit of a distraction
“Now we can just get on with the season and hopefully continue what has been a pretty good start for us.”
Newcastle’s only outgoing this summer has been the departure of reserve-team midfielder Kazenga LuaLua on loan to Brighton, and even transfer-listed Steven Taylor will remain where he is despite claims of a loan bid from Celtic yesterday.
Keane would have been a useful addition but United effectively ended their search for another frontman as soon as it became clear he was going to remain at White Hart Lane.
It is a situation that could change again in the New Year, but for now Hughton is happy to see the back of all the speculation.
He said: “We did look at bringing in another striker on loan, but I was always mindful of the fact that, if we were going to do that, it had to be someone considerably better than what we have already got here.
“There wasn’t anyone available who was going to do that so we left it. There was no point signing someone just for the sake of it.
“We’ve got Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi who can play up there on their own, with Kevin Nolan playing slightly higher up the pitch. And we’ve got young Nile Ranger who is coming on in leaps and bounds, as well as Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best.
Meanwhile, Carroll has withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad ahead of the European Championship qualifiers against Portugal and Lithuania, although it is believed to only be a precautionary measure.
Carroll has been hampered by an ankle problem of late but is expected to play against Blackpool following the international break.
