Source: Northern_Echo
Carlisle United 0 Newcastle United 3
Carlisle United 0 Newcastle United 3[LNB] SOL Campbell is hoping to open contract discussions with Newcastle United when he returns from his honeymoon at the start of next month.[LNB] Campbell, who is currently a free agent after his previous contract with Arsenal expired at the end of June, was in Corbridge over the weekend attending his wedding to longterm partner Fiona Barratt.[LNB] The 35-year-old has been offered a new one-year deal at the Emirates Stadium, and has also discussed his future with officials from Sunderland, Celtic and West Ham in recent weeks.[LNB] But sources close to the England international claim he is aware of long-standing interest from Newcastle, and is keen to hold face-to-face talks with Magpies manager Chris Hughton when he returns to England ahead of the start of the new season.[LNB] Hughton and Campbell worked together at Tottenham, and the former is a longstanding admirer of the latter's defensive capabilities.[LNB] Campbell confirmed that Newcastle made an attempt to sign him after he left Notts County following an ill-fated spell in League Two last autumn, and while he hardly fits the template that Magpies owner Mike Ashley has laid out for potential new signings this summer, it is understood Hughton will be afforded some flexibility for special cases'.[LNB] Campbell, an experienced centre-half who confirmed his enduring ability at Arsenal last season, would fall into that category, although his wage demands could yet prove problematic.[LNB] Central defensive issues were dominating Hughton's agenda all weekend, and the Newcastle boss will discover the extent of Steven Taylor's latest injury setback when the 24-year-old is sent for a series of scans later today.[LNB] Taylor, who missed the second half of last season with a serious knee injury, was unable to complete Saturday's pre-season friendly win at Carlisle United after damaging his shoulder in the final ten minutes of the game.[LNB] He left the field in considerable pain, and will be assessed this morning provided any swelling around the injured joint has gone down.[LNB] We need to assess him, but he has definitely felt his shoulder, confirmed Hughton, on Saturday night.[LNB] I am hoping it is not too bad, but right now it's impossible to know the full extent of the injury.[LNB] Hughton was satisfied with his side's display in their opening pre-season outing, as second-half goals from Leon Best, Nile Ranger and Haris Vuckic earned an ultimately comfortable victory over committed opposition.[LNB] Shola Ameobi was absent after suffering a back spasm on Friday, and Hughton's starting partnership of Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands is expected to be Newcastle's first-choice strike pairing for the majority of the campaign.[LNB] Carroll was still in the number 24 shirt he wore last season at Brunton Park, but the England Under-21 international is expected to be the club's new number nine when the squad list for the Premier League season is confirmed at the start of next month.[LNB] I have made a decision, but I'm not going to say what it is yet, said Hughton. I need to make that decision known to other people first.[LNB] I know it is an issue, and I am quite aware of what it is and what it means to the club.[LNB] That is why I treat the issue with the respect it deserves.[LNB] Ironically, Carroll was probably the least effective of Newcastle's attackers at the weekend, with Best, Ranger and Vuckic all scoring after the 21-year-old had been substituted at the break.[LNB] Best, who failed to break his duck in 13 senior appearances last season, rounded goalkeeper Adam Collin at the start of the second half, Ranger converted a low cross from the lively Wayne Routledge and Vuckic displayed commendable composure to swivel in the box and dispatch a low drive into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.[LNB] You saw that the lads are sharp enough at this stage, and we're looking forward to the season, said midfielder Kevin Nolan. We had to prove a lot of people wrong in the Championship last year, and we have to prove a lot of people wrong in the Premier League.[LNB] I'm sick of hearing ex-professionals coming on and saying that we're not good enough. They were a bunch of nobodies when they first went into the Premier League, and they made names for themselves.[LNB] We're confident that once we get in there and mix it up with the other teams, we're a lot better than a lot of the teams that'll be around us.[LNB] CARLISLE UNITED (4-4-2): Collin (Caig 71); Simek (Kane 67), M'Voto (Wood 74), Harte (Swinglehurst 85), Murphy (Gibson 67); Berrett, Thirlwell (Cregg 46), Bridge-Wilkinson (Hurst 46), Taiwo (Robson 46); Curran (Zoko 46), Madine (Price 46).[LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED: First half (4-4- 2): Harper; Tavernier, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Inman, Smith, Nolan, LuaLua; Carroll, Lovenkrands.[LNB] Second half (4-4-2): Krul; R Taylor, S Taylor (Henderson 81), Perch, Ferguson; Routledge, Guthrie, Barton, Vuckic; Best, Ranger. Sub (not used): McLaughlin.[LNB]
