Hughton counts the cost of clash

03 October 2010 17:30
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton left Eastlands seething after a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City that was made even worse by the broken leg suffered by Hatem Ben Arfa. The Frenchman was on the wrong end of a reckless-looking tackle from Nigel de Jong after only five minutes and left the field on a stretcher, requiring oxygen to ease his discomfort. "It does not look good," said Hughton. "He has gone to hospital and we will make an announcement in due course but it looks like he has broken his leg. "Everyone will have their own opinion but it was a tackle that did not need to be made." Referee Martin Atkinson did not even award a free-kick, which suggests the matter will be looked at again, with the possibility of a violent conduct charge being brought by the FA if the tackle is deemed to be reckless. "There is no malice in Nigel whatsoever," said City assistant-manager Brian Kidd. "He is not that type of lad."

Source: PA