Source: Northern_Echo
Guthrie has to be patient
DANNY Guthrie has admitted he cannot expect to walk straight back into the Newcastle United side following his lengthy injury lay-off at the start of the season.[LNB] Guthrie has been sidelined since sustaining a knee ligament injury in training in the final weeks of the pre-season programme.[LNB] The midfielder has been recovering since, and his rehabilitation took a major step forward when he played the full 90 minutes of this week's reserves draw with Aston Villa.[LNB] He is expected to feature in next week's reserves game at Blackpool, and will hope to make the squad for Newcastle's next Premier League fixture with Wigan on October 16.[LNB] However, with Cheik Tiote having established himself alongside Joey Barton at the heart of midfield, Guthrie admits he will have to be patient as he plots a route back to the starting line-up.[LNB] I'm probably going to have to be patient for a little while longer, said the 23-year-old, who made 36 starts as Newcastle won the Championship title last season.[LNB] I don't know what the manager is thinking, but realistically, the team has been doing well so I'll probably be on the bench.[LNB] The main thing for me is just being over this injury now and being able to push for a place in the first team again.[LNB] Guthrie can play on the right-hand side, and with Wayne Routledge having failed to find his top form in recent matches, a wider role could offer a better opportunity of a starting spot.[LNB] The former Liverpool trainee is happy to play anywhere, but continues to see himself as a central midfielder following a successful spell in the Championship.[LNB] Like a number of his teammates, Guthrie enjoyed his time outside the top-flight, and while he is desperate to avoid a return to the second tier, he feels last season helped develop a spirit and unity that could prove crucial in the next few months.[LNB] I see myself as a central midfielder, he said. I played there most of last season and I've got my own strengths I can bring to the team, it's just up to the manager now.[LNB] I'm really looking forward to proving myself in the Premier League again. Nobody wants to play in the Championship, but it was character building.[LNB] We formed a really strong team bond and it was a brilliant season for us. We've carried a confidence and team spirit into the Premier League.[LNB]
