Simpson focused on start

18 August 2009 08:28
DANNY SIMPSON trained with Newcastle United for the first time yesterday and quickly realised why off-field distractions have not prevented a promising start to life in the Championship. Simpson, 22, was in the stands at St James Park on Saturday as the Magpies followed up an opening day draw at West Brom with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Reading. While the ongoing ownership issue means there are few predicting a quick return to the Premier League at this stage, Chris Hughtons small squad are at least offering some hope to disgruntled supporters. The decent start, however, will count for little if Newcastle fail see off Sheffield Wednesday at St James Park tomorrow night, by which time there is likely to have been some news on the future of the club. Prospective owner Barry Moat was in talks with Barclays Bank yesterday and further discussions are planned for today, when he hopes to be able to inform Mike Ashley that he can buy him out. Rather than concentrate on the side issues, though, Simpson insists the players are just trying to go about their own jobs as professionally as they can. With everything that has been going on behind the scenes, it was important that the lads got a good solid performance against Reading and thats exactly what they managed to do, said Simpson. In training (on Monday) the lads went straight into it and you can tell that all they wanted to do was play football. Im just as focused now myself. I cant wait to get going. I just want to get out there at St James Park. Im hopeful I will play on Wednesday, but Saturday was a great win. I want to get settled here as quickly as I can. Simpson already knows a few of the Newcastle squad. He was part of the Manchester United set-up with Alan Smith and Nicky Butt, while he was also part of the United Academy team with Danny Guthrie. It was Guthrie, who left for Liverpool after leaving school, he called first after learning he was on his way to Tyneside on loan until the end of the year. Simpson, a right-back who spent time on loan at Sunderland, could be joined in the Newcastle squad at some stage this week by Sol Campbell. The former England defender, 36 later this year, was released by Portsmouth and he is expected to replace Steven Taylor in the Newcastle squad sooner rather than later. Sources close to Taylor claim that he is not about to hand in a transfer request, but he is aware of interest from Everton and a deal is on the cards. Ideally the boyhood Newcastle fan would like to stay at St James for one more season under Alan Shearer, which is why he will wait to see what develops with the Moat-Ashley discussions in the next couple of days. The Football Association have confirmed Englands World Cup qualifier with Croatia on September 9 is a 90,000 sell-out. After starting their Group Six campaign with seven successive victories, Fabio Capellos men just require one more to confirm their place in South Africa next year. Three Lions supporters are eager to see if their team can make it with two games to spare and avenge their defeat to Slaven Bilics men two years ago that saw them miss Euro 2008. However, tickets are still available for the friendly encounter with Slovenia on Saturday, September 5 (5.30pm).

Source: Northern_Echo