Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton makes defence priority after Taylor setback
AS Steven Taylor's shoulder injury continues to give serious cause for concern, Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has admitted strengthening his defence is the major priority between now and the start of the season.[LNB] Taylor underwent a series of scans last week, and while Newcastle officials are refusing to comment publicly, the defender is understood to be a major doubt for the opening month of the new campaign.[LNB] With summer signing James Perch also nursing a minor knock, Hughton was forced to give teenage full-back James Tavernier a 90-minute run out at centre-half as the Magpies suffered their opening pre-season defeat at Norwich.[LNB] Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson are the only senior alternatives to Taylor, while Jose Enrique remains the only recognised left-back on Newcastle's books, and Hughton will spend the next seven days attempting to make some headway with his defensive targets.[LNB] If I look at what we've got at this moment, defence is probably the area where we're a little bit light, said the Newcastle boss, who tellingly left the number five shirt unallocated as he confirmed the club's squad list for the new season on Saturday morning.[LNB] With Steven Taylor and James Perch missing, we had young James Tavernier, who is normally a right-back, playing at centre-back, young Shane Ferguson at left-back and Wayne Routledge playing in a very unfamiliar right-back position. Defensively, we are stretched.[LNB] Hughton is hoping to re-sign Patrick van Aanholt on a season-long loan after the Chelsea youngster impressed during a brief spell at St James' Park last season.[LNB] Further up the field, he continues to covet Manchester United duo Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck, and while limited funds are available for permanent signings, long-term loans are likely to play a major role in Newcastle's recruitment drive.[LNB] That brings its own problems, however, as the leading clubs are often reluctant to sanction the departure of players until they have completed their own transfer activity in the latter stages of the window.[LNB] A lot of clubs are still assessing what they've got, said Hughton, who dismissed speculation in the French media linking Newcastle with Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa. In terms of the bigger clubs, once they've made a decision on what they've got, then they will decide who they can let go on loan.[LNB] It's a situation where we have to try to be on the pulse as much as we can and hopefully we'll be there to make a decision when we need to.[LNB] Saturday's defeat will have taught Hughton little he did not already know, but Newcastle's second-half showing nevertheless provided a timely reminder that Andy Carroll is not the only home-grown centre-forward hoping to make an impact next season.[LNB] Carroll made his first appearance in Newcastle's iconic number nine shirt before the break, but was upstaged two minutes after the interval when Shola Ameobi received Xisco's through ball and drilled a low finish into the corner of the net after turning adroitly in the box.[LNB] Ameobi became something of a forgotten man as he sustained a succession of injury problems in the last two seasons, but while Hughton is expected to start the new campaign by fielding Carroll as a lone striker at Old Trafford, Newcastle's longest-serving marksman insists the attacking pecking order is not set in stone.[LNB] There's not really an established order at the moment, which maybe wasn't always the case in the past when someone like Alan (Shearer) was around, said Ameobi. Chances will come along for all the strikers, and you have to take them when they arrive.[LNB] It's going to be a big year for me personally, but then every year's a big year. I was chosen to start the season last season and I scored a hat-trick in my first home game, but then I got injured, Andy got into the side and finished as top scorer. Things like that happen.[LNB] Nobody knows what's going to happen this season you just have to make sure you give your all and make sure you're in the best possible shape to show the manager that you're ready for the task ahead.[LNB] Ameobi's goal pulled Newcastle back level after Martin had opened the scoring in the 38th minute, tapping home from close range after Wes Hoolahan took advantage of a dreadful backpass from Ryan Taylor and beat Tavernier with a fine dribbling run.[LNB] Martin headed Norwich back in front with 15 minutes left, beating Tim Krul's sprawling dive with the aid of a deflection off Williamson, before Peter Lovenkrands headed against the crossbar two minutes from time.[LNB] You can't read too much into a result like that, said Hughton. Norwich are ahead of us, and that was the kind of competition we want at this stage of pre-season.[LNB] NORWICH (4-4-2): Ruddy; R Martin, Nelson, Ward (Francomb 63), Drury; Crofts, Hoolahan (McNamee 72), Fox (Gill 78), Surman (Lappin 78); Jackson (Johnson 63), C Martin.[LNB] Subs: Steer (gk), Dawkin, Tudur Jones.[LNB] NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Krul; R Taylor (Routledge 46), Tavernier, Coloccini (Williamson 46), Enrique (Ferguson 57); Ranger (Xisco 46), Nolan (Guthrie 46), Barton (Smith 46), Vuckic (Edmundsson 72); Carroll (Lovenkrands 46), Best (Ameobi 46).[LNB] Subs: Alnwick (gk), Henderson.[LNB]
