Source: Daily_Mail
Fast start is no surprise, insists Newcastle defender Mike Williamson
NMo surprise: Mike Williamson (right) says Newcastle have bought quality players to St James's Park[LNB]Defender Mike Williamson insists Newcastle's promising start to the season has surprised no-one within the camp. [LNB]The Magpies head into the sixth round of Barclays Premier Leaguefixtures tomorrow having enjoyed a hugely encouraging first few weeksback in the big time, barring a not unexpected opening defeat at Manchester United and a shock home reverse at the hands of fellowpromoted side Blackpool. [LNB]However, a 6-0 demolition of Aston Villa and last weekend's 1-0 winat Everton, as well as their Carling Cup victory over Chelsea, haveraised an eyebrow or two. [LNB]Few on Tyneside are reading too much into the promising start - butthere is a mounting confidence within St James' Park as things goexactly how manager Chris Hughton and his players hoped they might. [LNB]Williamson explained: 'Within the camp, we set our stall out fromthe start, we had our ambitions and we are sticking to that. [LNB]'We are achieving what we set out to achieve at the minute and it is just a case of keeping the momentum. [LNB]'The boys knew we were going to be one of the favourites to go downand we haven't exactly gone out and spent millions in the transferwindow. [LNB]'But what the manager has done is added quality, and that's one of his strengths.[LNB] 'The club has made a statement that we don't need to do that, wehave got a blend between young and old and youth and experience, andthat is going to stand us in good stead. [LNB] 'We know that by sticking together with the quality we have got, that we will be fine.'[LNB]Hughton made 10 changes for Wednesday's Carling Cup third round trip to Chelsea and few outside the dressing room expected anything other than a home win.[LNB]However, there is a new spirit about a club which has emerged from the depths of despair in the last year or so and their 4-3 victory at Stamford Bridge was as deserved as it was spectacular. [LNB] Handful: Kenwyne Jones (left) could give Newcastle problems[LNB]Newcastle will attempt to build upon what they have done already when Stoke visit tomorrow, although after what happened at home to Blackpool a fortnight ago, nothing is being taken for granted. [LNB]Williamson continued: 'We don't look too far back and we don't look too far ahead, we just look at the next game as the most important. [LNB]'We will attack this game like every other game, wanting to take the three points from it.' [LNB]There will be plenty of familiar faces among the Stoke squad - manager Tony Pulis fielded five former Sunderland players, ex-Magpie Abdoulaye Faye and Boro old boy Robert Huth in his starting line-up against last weekend. [LNB]But one in particular stands out for 26-year-old Williamson, who has had to wait for his chance on the big stage after never making it during his time at Portsmouth because of the financial mess in which the club found itself. [LNB]He said: 'Kenwyne Jones is going to be a massive handful. We have seen how physical he is and he is a very, very influential player for them. [LNB]'I have played against Wayne Rooney and there's Didier Drogba to come, just world-class names I can't wait to test myself against. [LNB]'From day one, you want to test yourself against the best because you want to prove yourself. [LNB]'Sometimes, you have just got to hold your hands up and say things were just down to good play because with some of the quality that is on show, sometimes you just can't prevent everything. [LNB]'But my job is to limit the chances they have and that's what I relish doing.'[LNB] Stoke City boss Tony Pulis insists the best is yet to come from new boy Kenwyne Jones Hughton has no worries about making Krul his new No 1 at NewcastleNEWCASTLE UNITED FC: All the latest news from across the web[LNB] [LNB]
