Joe Kinnear targets Stoke City match for return to Newcastle United dugout

10 March 2009 11:00
Kinnear is recovering well following triple heart bypass surgery last month and is setting his sights on taking the helm again ahead of the Premier League visit to fellow strugglers Stoke on Saturday, April 11. Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias has insisted Kinnear will not be allowed anywhere near the Newcastle dugout but will have to make do with a seat in the directors' box at the Britannia Stadium for a potentially crucial game. Newcastle United not looking to replace Joe Kinnear, says Derek Llambias "I spoke to Joe yesterday and he is doing really well," said Llambias. "He has made excellent progress and is already doing a lot of walking. "He says he is feeling strong and the doctors are happy with him and how things are going in his recovery. We're happy as well and it all seems to be going to schedule. "If it was up to Joe he would come back tomorrow, but realistically we are looking at the Stoke game. "He'll probably go into the training ground for a couple of days before that game to help the coaching staff prepare the team, although it won't be anything too strenuous. "But we won't let him go in the dugout at Stoke, we can't have him jumping around and getting excited on the touchline. "He'll have to take a seat with Mike (Ashley) and I in the stand and watch the game from there. We have to make sure he doesn't do too much." Llambias also revealed that despite his health problems, Kinnear, 62, has been doing his best to aid the battle against relegation at St James' Park. "Joe won't stop thinking about Newcastle, the team, the coaching staff and everything else," Llambias added. "He's in good spirits, but he knows we're in a difficult position. The Hull City game (on Saturday) looks as though it will be a massive one for the club and we all realise that. "As well as analysing all the tapes and passing messages on to Chris Hughton, he is also looking at transfer targets and things like that. "But we have to make sure we are safe before we start setting the ball rolling on those sorts of things." Newcastle have taken four points from four games since Kinnear was rushed into hospital ahead of the 3-2 victory at West Bromwich Albion and Hughton was appointed caretaker manager. The Tyneside club head to Hull this weekend sitting just one point and two places above the relegation zone with home games against Arsenal and title-chasing Chelsea following the KC Stadium clash before Stoke welcome Newcastle and Kinnear.  

Source: Telegraph