Source: Northern_Echo
Rangers 2 Newcastle 1
Rangers 2 Newcastle 1[LNB] NEWCASTLE are confident of completing a season-long loan deal for Hatem Ben Arfa this week, after Chris Hughton admitted new additions are imperative given the size of the Magpies squad.[LNB] After weeks of delicate negotiations, Marseille officials finally agreed to accept an 800,000 Euros loan fee for Ben Arfa on Saturday night, with a view to a more permanent transfer at the end of the season.[LNB] The French midfielder has been given permission to travel to Tyneside for personal talks, and while Magpies owner Mike Ashley has imposed strict financial guidelines this summer, there are not expected to be any significant complications.[LNB] Problems could yet arise if other clubs attempt to hijack the deal, with weekend reports having linked Liverpool with a possible late interest despite sources in France claiming there has been no official approach from the Anfield club.[LNB] However, the Newcastle hierarchy remain confident Ben Arfa will become the club's fourth summer signing following the earlier arrival of James Perch, Dan Gosling and Sol Campbell.[LNB] Ben Arfa, who was last week named in the France squad for this week's friendly in Norway, has consistently expressed a desire to move to England, and his intransigence has proved crucial in persuading Marseille to grant him permission to speak to Newcastle.[LNB] German club Hoffenheim and Russian side Rubin Kazan both tabled cash offers for the 23-year-old, and Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier would have preferred to engineer a permanent transfer rather than a temporary switch.[LNB] However, Ben Arfa's refusal to talk terms with either Hoffenheim or Rubin was crucial, and he is set to add some much-needed energy and creativity to a Newcastle midfield that failed to sparkle as the pre-season programme ended in a 2-1 defeat at Rangers on Saturday.[LNB] The starting line-up for next Monday's Premier League opener at Manchester United is widely expected to be the same side that started at Ibrox, with Kevin Nolan supporting lone striker Andy Carroll and Danny Guthrie partnering Joey Barton at the heart of midfield.[LNB] With Campbell, Steven Taylor and Danny Simpson all having been ruled out of the trip to Old Trafford, Newcastle's back four effectively picks itself, and Hughton admits the lack of options so close to the end of the transfer window is alarming.[LNB] I think we would be stretched if nobody was to come in before the end of the month, said the Magpies manager.[LNB] At the moment, we have to remember that, in terms of the defence, we have Danny Simpson who'll be missing for seven or eight games and Steven Taylor who will be out for even longer.[LNB] That's two of our biggest players missing. I think we would be stretched if we don't add.[LNB] That doesn't mean we can't get through, and it doesn't mean if we're fortunate with injuries, we couldn't cope. But we could be stretched and we're aware of that.[LNB] As well as targeting Ben Arfa, Hughton continues to track a number of potential loan signings from England.[LNB] Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury is the latest player to have been linked with a possible switch to St James', but with agents desperately trying to move their clients around, the biggest difficulty is often sorting the wheat from the chaff.[LNB] We're having a lot of players offered to us on a daily basis, said Hughton.[LNB] There are players being offered all the time some you know better than others, some you don't know at all. It becomes a bit of a frenzy.[LNB] At least there are no more pre-season outings to worry about after Newcastle wrapped up their friendly programme on a losing note.[LNB] Kenny Miller exposed some worrying deficiencies at the heart of the Magpies defence to head home Steven Whittaker's 24th-minute cross, before Steven Naismith doubled Rangers' lead midway through the second half after an excellent through ball from Steven Davis.[LNB] Peter Lovenkrands reduced the arrears within 60 seconds of leaving the bench as he made an emotional return to Ibrox, and while the Dane is unlikely to start at Old Trafford, he is still confident of making an impact.[LNB] There's been a lot of talk about the formation, but we played with one striker up front a lot of the time away from home last year, he said.[LNB] I don't expect too much to change, but that's fine, the chances will come.[LNB] Even if I'm not starting in some away games, I can still have an impact.[LNB] I came on here and got a goal, and sometimes it's as important to have an impact like that as it is to start a game.[LNB] If you're playing against one of the top teams in the Premier League, the early part of the game is often about keeping it tight and frustrating them. Then maybe you can hit them on the break.[LNB] RANGERS (4-5-1): McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac (Wylde 63); Naismith (Velicka 82), Davis (Hutton 82), Edu, McCulloch (Shinnie 71), Whittaker; Miller (Lafferty 63). Subs (not used): Alexander (gk), McMillan, Little, Campbell.[LNB] NEWCASTLE (4-5-1): Harper; Perch (Tavernier 81), Coloccini (Ferguson 81), Williamson, Enrique (R Taylor 56); Routledge (Xisco 83), Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Lovenkrands 69); Carroll (Ameobi 46). Sub (not used): Krul (gk).[LNB]
