Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton seeking to extend his stay
NEWCASTLE manager Chris Hughton will sit down with the club's top brass in the next few weeks to thrash out the terms on a new deal that he hopes will tie him to St James' Park for the longterm.[LNB] Hughton has only one season to run on his current contract and is expected to be rewarded for piloting the Magpies back to the Premier League with a new deal on improved terms.[LNB] The Newcastle boss is relaxed about the situation but will be keen to begin talks with owner Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias, the club's managing director, once promotion has been confirmed.[LNB] That could be achieved as early as tomorrow if results go in Newcastle's favour, setting up Monday's home encounter with Sheffield United to be a Bank Holiday promotion party.[LNB] At the moment we've got the season to complete, insisted Hughton.[LNB] Surprisingly it's not a big issue for me. I've got a year left on my contract and I'm sure that I'll be speaking with the owners and Derek in the summer and we'll see then but it's certainly for me not a big concern.[LNB] Would I like to stay for a good period of time[LNB] Yes, it's a wonderful club I've enjoyed the association I've had with this club and so far it's been a good season for us. This is a club I would like to stay at.[LNB] For the period of time I've been here, the two years I've been here irrespective of the fact that the end of last season was a difficult time with getting relegated, I've thoroughly enjoyed the period of time I've been here.[LNB] Hughton's immediate thoughts were on tomorrow's trip to basement club Peterborough United with Andy Carroll, who limped off shortly after the restart against Nottingham Forest on Monday evening, his main injury worry.[LNB] The manager has allayed fears the Gateshead-born target man's ankle injury could prevent him from featuring during the promotion run-in but it looks increasingly likely that he will not be risked for the trip to London Road.[LNB] Shola Ameobi, who marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal against Forest, is expected to start alongside Peter Lovenkrands in attack.[LNB] We certainly haven't ruled Andy out,'' he admitted.[LNB] But he's probably got a better chance of being involved on Monday. If he's not available to play he won't travel.[LNB] It's great to have someone like Shola with his quality available to call on.[LNB] I'm sure if he hadn't had his injury problems this season then he would have scored even more goals at this level.[LNB] I feel a confidence on the back of a good win on Monday.[LNB] After a win there's always a feel-good factor for one or two days then it's back to preparation for the next game and that's what I see from the players, they all want to be involved.[LNB] Hughton insisted that Alan Smith has fully recovered from an ankle injury but he had delayed the midfielder's return to the starting line-up as a precautionary measure.[LNB] He's ready to come back it was my decision on the last game just to keep him back,'' he said.[LNB] Could I have rushed him back[LNB] Yes, but I felt because of the position we were in which was quite healthy squad wise that I was afforded the extra day or two which was perhaps better for him.''[LNB]
