Source: Northern_Echo
Campbell and Taylor to seize chance to impress
CHRIS HUGHTON has urged Newcastle United's players to tread carefully after learning there will be an untested central defensive pairing trying to thwart Premier League champions Chelsea.[LNB] Mike Williamson was found guilty of violent conduct by an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing yesterday morning for his off the ball barge into Bolton's Johan Elmander last Saturday.[LNB] Williamson will now serve a three-match ban, meaning he will miss Sunday's visit of Chelsea, the trip to West Brom and the home match with Liverpool on December 11.[LNB] The 27-year-old's absence has further reduced Hughton's options at the heart of the defence following Fabricio Coloccini's red card at the Reebok Stadium.[LNB] Coloccini will also miss the same three matches for the way he elbowed Elmander in the same fixture, with Hughton ready to turn to Taylor and Sol Campbell against Chelsea.[LNB] Coping with the threat of Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka provides a test of any defender's credentials, but even more so at St James' Park.[LNB] While Campbell, 36, has had to bid his time since returning to full fitness after missing the vast majority of pre-season training, Taylor has not started a competitive match since January because of injury.[LNB] Hughton, however, is not concerned. He said: It is what it is. You can't argue with the fact Sol and Steven are two players who haven't played a lot of football this season.[LNB] But all we can do is just get on with it. They are both players with plenty of first team experience also. Sunday was already going to be a tough, tough game but it is an even more difficult job for us now because we have lost three first-choice players.[LNB] However these are the sort of things that are sent to try you over the course of a season and it is now about how we respond.[LNB] And Taylor, who remains no nearer to signing a new contract after talks stalled months ago, feels linking up with Campbell will forge a quick understanding.[LNB] We've got fantastic defenders at the club and I think that's been proved with Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson doing well this season,[LNB] said the Newcastle centre- back, who suffered a recurrence of his shoulder injury in a pre-season game at Carlisle.[LNB] Playing with Sol Campbell would be fantastic. We played in the reserve match against Manchester City last week, and I had a good partnership with him there in a 1-0 win, so it would be good if we get the opportunity.[LNB] Hughton remains annoyed by the FA's decision to hand Williamson a three-match ban and given the circumstances the authorities confirmed last night there is no right of appeal in this situation.[LNB] Newcastle are also without Joey Barton through suspension for a further match and Hughton will be informing his squad to watch their step in the coming weeks.[LNB] We are very disappointed with the decision, said the Newcastle manager. The fact there was no additional ban for Mike shows we were justified in contesting the charge.[LNB] To lose the two centrehalves for three games is a big, big blow but we just have to get on with it. We can't justify what the two players have done. This is where players have to be responsible for their actions and they have to accept their bans.[LNB] But from a squad perspective, those are two valuable players. Discipline is something that we're reminding players about all the time so I wouldn't say there has been a specific reminder. But we can't afford to lose any more players.[LNB]
