Source: Telegraph
Newcastle will not risk Sol Campbell until he is fully fit, says Chris Hughton
Hughton may have been excused for ushering the vastly-experienced Campbell into the fold after Newcastle's defensive deficiencies were exposed in Monday's 3-0 defeat a Manchester United but he will resist the temptation due to the former England centre-half's lack of match fitness. [LNB]The 37-year-old free transfer, currently working intensively with the club's fitness coaches, missed the bulk of Newcastle's pre-season training programme and with that in mind Hughton has pledged to ease him in gradually and that means he will watch Sunday's game with Aston Villa from the stands. [LNB]"Sunday is too early for Sol but he's getting much closer now," Hughton said. "Could we put him out on Sunday? Well possibly but we'd prefer not to because we're looking at it from the long-term [LNB]"It is not just a question of one or two games; it's about getting him back properly to play for the rest of the season. If we rushed him back then he is susceptible to picking up knocks and that is not what wewant to happen. [LNB]"Sol knows he is physically behind the others but he is making good progress and I'm happy with him." [LNB]On a brighter note, Hughton is expecting Danny Guthrie and Peter Lovenkrands to be available for selection after injuries ruled them out of the visit to Old Trafford. [LNB]"We're expecting both Danny and Peter to be available which will improve our options," Hughton added. [LNB]"The reason they travelled with us to Manchester was because the injuries were both very minor. I was hopeful they would be back but we kept them back so as not to risk them because we have a long season in front of us. [LNB]"They will both train today with a view to being part of the squad for the Aston Villa game." [LNB]Meanwhile, Hughton has expressed frustration at his struggles to strengthen his squad with more new signings ahead of Villa's visit after a move for Marseilles' Hatem Ben Arfa seemed poised to fail with the French international expected to join AC Milan or Werder Bremen. [LNB]"It's difficult at the moment and I must admit that it's frustrating at the moment but that is the nature of the transfer window," Hughton said. "I'm still hopeful that we're going to be able to make those additions. We're still working at it."[LNB]
