Kinnear on road to recovery

18 February 2009 16:21
ewcastle caretaker coach Chris Hughton says Joe Kinnear is recovering well from his triple heart bypass operation.[LNB] The Magpies boss underwent surgery on Friday and he is expected to be out of action for at least two months.[LNB]Hughton has stepped into the managerial breach at St James' Park, but expects Kinnear to be back on the sidelines in the not too distant future.[LNB]"Everything that we've heard is good news. He is recovering well. He moved into his own room today and his progress has been good," Hughton said in the Daily Telegraph.[LNB]"I have spoken to Joe. I have rung him a few times, but I appreciate where he is and that's he's not going to be accessible.[LNB]"He's had major surgery and we are only five days post-surgery.[LNB]"But at some stage he will be very much itching to get on the phone and to know what's happening. At what stage that will be I'm not sure, but it will no doubt be at the earliest convenience.[LNB]"Joe is the kind of person who will find it hard to take a backward step from it all. He is the type who always wants to be very involved, he's used to being on the training pitch and in the middle of everything. [LNB]"When you are like that it is difficult. But Joe will be back. The way we are looking at it is, the statement we made last week, that he would be away for a two-month period, still applies."[LNB]PressureHughton is relishing the prospect of helping to steer Newcastle towards Premier League safety, but accepts that he faces a hectic couple of months while he covers for Kinnear.[LNB]He added: "You put pressure on yourself because you desperately want to get results, you want this team to be winning football matches. That's my responsibility for the time being and that's the pressure you put yourself under.[LNB]"I have experience in being in this position before so I am quite capable and confident of coping.[LNB]"What we are sensing here is that things have settled down. The transfer window is over and during that period there is always speculation about players. The group now have to see it through to end of the season.[LNB]"We have been through a lot but I sense we are a little bit more stable now though so we can get on with the important matters of playing football matches, playing well and pleasing the supporters.[LNB]"You don't switch off. What goes with responsibility is the amount of time you are thinking about the game, what you need to do to win the next one. You enjoy the moment when you win, but you quickly think about the next game. I am still sleeping though."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports