Source: Northern_Echo
January quality is the key for Hughton
CHRIS HUGHTON has warned Newcastle fans not to expect a big influx of players during the transfer window, insisting it will be quality rather than quantity he'll be looking for in January.[LNB] The Magpies manager's priority will be ensuring he has the right characters in his squad to secure promotion back to the Premier League in May.[LNB] The club have spent nothing on transfer fees since relegation from the Premier League was confirmed at Villa Park seven months ago, but have seen the likes of Obafemi Martins, Damien Duff, Sebastien Bassong, and Habib Beye depart for a combined fee in excess of £20m.[LNB] Hughton will spend the next few weeks deciding whether to extend deals for loan signings Danny Simpson, Marlon Harewood and Zurab Khizanishvilli, before discussing further additions to his squad with managing director Derek Llambias.[LNB] We've got decisions to make on three players who came in on loan Simpson, Khizanishvilli, and Harewood but we're not far off and I don't anticipate a lot coming in during the window.[LNB] The most important thing is making sure we've got the right squad and the right personnel in the squad.[LNB] We've very much still making decisions on what we want in what areas.[LNB] At the moment we don't have too many injuries.[LNB] There's Joey Barton (knee) and Danny Guthrie picked up a slight injury, but the squad at the moment is as strong as it's been all season.[LNB] Harewood did his chances of staying at St James' Park no harm with his fourth goal since signing from Aston Villa in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Barnsley.[LNB] Hughton is keen to extend Simpson's stay but it appears unlikely Khizanishvilli's loan spell will be extended.[LNB] A final decision on Harewood is still to be made and Hughton added: It was a big goal and a big finish a clever finish.[LNB] That's the benefit of being able to bring on the quality of a player like Marlon.[LNB] One player linked with a move away from the club over the past few days is Andy Carroll following his arrest on suspicion of assault at a city centre nightclub a week ago.[LNB] After being left out at Coventry in midweek he returned to set up both Newcastle's goals at Oakwell.[LNB] He coped very well with it (off field problems) and he was instrumental in both goals and gave us 90 minutes,[LNB] said Hughton, who also saw the striker hand possession to Barnsley in their build up for their first goal.[LNB] We know he's a handful and on his day he's a very good player.[LNB] We didn't speak about (his mistake).[LNB] We spoke about needing to be better in keeping the ball at times. We knew it was going to be frantic and we needed to be a bit calmer at times in possession and to be a bit more creative.[LNB] Carroll's return will prove to be a short one, however, after he picked up a booking following a late clash with Tykes' veteran centre half Darren Moore.[LNB] It was the 21-year-old's fifth caution of the campaign meaning he misses next Sunday's game against Middlesbrough.[LNB] Newcastle will have a new shirt manufacturer next season after adidas ended its sponsorship deal with the club.[LNB] The association dates back to 1995, when adidas replaced Asics, and it is believed the high-profile firm is unhappy with the negative publicity which has surrounded the club.[LNB] Recently adidas moved quickly to distance itself from stories linking the firm with Ashley's controversial plan to re-name St James' Park.[LNB] It decided not to renew a contract which ends in the summer. Newcastle will sport Puma shirts next season.[LNB]
