Source: Daily_Mail
Kinnear on course for April comeback as Newcastle prepare for relegation fight
Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear remains on course to return to work next month as he continues his recovery from heart surgery.
There were suggestions at the weekend the 62-year-old had suffered a setback after undergoing a triple heart bypass in February.
However, the Magpies insisted Kinnear had only caught a chest cold and is still on course to be back in harness for either the Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke on April 11 or the visit to Tottenham a week later.
Caretaker manager Chris Hughton, who is in regular touch with the man who was appointed as interim boss in September last year, is certainly expecting that to be the case.
He said: 'The indications are - and I haven't heard anything different to that - is that he would return round about the Stoke or Spurs games.
'But we will all be guided by the experts in that field, and more so one person himself, and that's Joe.
'That's where we are at the moment. Whether that changes or not, we will find out. "
'Joe is still in that period where his rehabilitation has gone very well. But he has had big surgery and there are days when he is better than other days.'
The club has also dismissed claims Terry Venables could be drafted in amid fears Kinnear may not return before the end of the season.
However, Hughton and coach Colin Calderwood have been asked to hold the fort until the former Wimbledon boss is ready to come back, and it is understood no further appointment would be made even if there was a significant delay.
Newcastle remain in dire relegation trouble after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Hull, which left them clear of the drop zone only on goal difference.
They face top-four duo Arsenal and Chelsea at St James' Park in their next two games looking for a vast improvement on the form they showed at the KC Stadium.
