Source: Northern_Echo
Newcastle United 2 PSV Eindhoven 2
Newcastle United 2 PSV Eindhoven 2[LNB] IF Sir Bobby Robson had been around to witness the postmatch shooting practice which took place in front of the Gallowgate after two of his beloved clubs met, he would have taken note.[LNB] Newcastle United's new number nine occasionally struck the sweetest of strikes high into the net, a January buy found the target more often than not with his efforts on goal, while a relatively unfamiliar face offered hints that things might be about to change for him on Tyneside.[LNB] It was not so much the merits of Andy Carroll or Leon Best that will have caught the eye among the supporters who stayed around to watch Colin Calderwood put the three attacking substitutes through their paces, more the technical ability of the Xisco kid.[LNB] He still has three years remaining on the five-year contract he signed when Dennis Wise insisted on paying £5.8m to Deportivo La Coruna for him when Kevin Keegan had his reservations almost two years ago.[LNB] Every time he has played in England he has looked weak, drained of confidence and a shadow of the player who has grown up playing Under-21 international football with many of Spain's World Cup winning squad.[LNB] But after spending last season on loan at Racing Santander, he is back at St James' Park and in with a chance of forcing his way in to manager Chris Hughton's plans. On the evidence of his cameo appearance against PSV Eindhoven, Hughton could do worse.[LNB] Xisco has been good in preseason.[LNB] All he can do is to force the decision, said Hughton.[LNB] With Carroll, Best and Xisco all competing with Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi who both started against PSV plus Nile Ranger for starting spots, Hughton is certainly not short of options.[LNB] Xisco does have the bonus of being able to play on either flank, or as more of an attacking midfielder, which is something which could aid his cause to play next season, provided he continues to show the flashes of talent he showed on Saturday.[LNB] He has only made seven appearances, three starts, in the league during his two years with Newcastle, but when he appeared seconds after Best had headed Newcastle level 18 minutes from time he almost hit the winner.[LNB] Cutting inside from the left, Xisco cleverly worked his way from his marker before sidefooting a shot from 22 yards narrowly wide of the PSV upright.[LNB] There was a sense that the 16,000-plus supporters were willing the ball in.[LNB] He played his part in a second- half performance that augurs well for Newcastle ahead of their Premier League return, although a disjointed opening period highlighted that Hughton has tweaks to make otherwise it could be a difficult season.[LNB] As well as long-term casualties Dan Gosling, Steven Taylor and Danny Simpson, the Magpies were without Wayne Routledge, Jonas Gutierrez, Joey Barton and latest signing Sol Campbell, who Hughton suggested would be sufficiently fit by the time they travel to Manchester United on August 16.[LNB] The Newcastle boss is, though, keen to make further inroads on the transfer front.[LNB] Further discussions aimed at bringing Tom Cleverley on loan from Manchester United took place at the weekend.[LNB] Hughton said: It certainly would be nice to get more players in during the next couple of weeks. Can I guarantee anything[LNB] Of course I can't, but we're working very hard on it.[LNB] After a minute's applause rang around St James' as a mark of respect to Sir Bobby on the first anniversary of his passing, the club he led to three Dutch titles during the Nineties, controlled things quickly.[LNB] When James Perch, making his first appearance on Tyneside since his move from Nottingham Forest, brought down Ola Toivonen in the ninth minute, the Swedish playmaker arrowed a 22-yard free-kick high into Steve Harper's top left corner.[LNB] PSV added a second in the sort of style Robson would have appreciated. After some short passes down the left, lone striker Marcus Berg dropped short to play back to Balazs Dzsudzsak, who was afforded far too much time and space to plot his next steps.[LNB] The Hungarian opted for just two, knocking the ball in front of him before unleashing the sweetest of right-foot drives low in to Harper's bottom left hand corner.[LNB] Newcastle showed more purpose after the restart and had a goal to cheer seven minutes in.[LNB] Newcastle were fortunate on two counts. Firstly Shola Ameobi's cross from the right fell kindly for Perch near the touchline after being blocked, then Perch's centre dropped for Ryan Taylor to curl in from 12 yards.[LNB] And after Best emerged from the bench to nod in Taylor's free-kick, Newcastle could have won it. Hughton, however, was just encouraged by his players' character ahead of trips to Deportivo La Coruna and Rangers this week.[LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Harper (Krul 53); Perch (Tavernier 67), Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Taylor (Vuckic 86), Nolan (LuaLua 86), Smith (Xisco 72), Guthrie; Lovenkrands (Carroll 67), Ameobi (Best 67).[LNB] Subs: Ranger, Donaldson.[LNB]
