Source: SKY_Sports
Magpies optimistic over duo
Newcastle are confident Steven Taylor and Sebastien Bassong will be fit enough to face Chelsea a week on Saturday.[LNB] The defensive duo limped out of last weekend's 3-1 defeat against Arsenal with ankle and groin injuries respectively.[LNB]The double blow came as a massive setback to the Magpies at a crucial stage of the season.[LNB]The club are still fighting for their Premier League lives and need as many bodies available as possible in order to give themselves the best chance of survival.[LNB]Caretaker coach Chris Hughton has therefore welcomed the news that the knocks suffered by Taylor and Bassong are not as serious as first feared.[LNB]"We are continuing to assess Steven and Sebastien Bassong and we're hopeful they could be available for Chelsea," he told the club's official website.[LNB]"What we haven't done at this moment is rule out either of them from making the Chelsea game.[LNB]"We are looking for an improvement over the next week or so and if we get that, they've got a chance but we're not ruling either of them out 100 per cent.[LNB]"With both of these injuries the assessment is going to be over the next few days and we'll know after that if one or both of them have a chance for the Chelsea game."[LNB]
