Source: Northern_Echo
Zurab heads back to Rovers
WITH Zurab Khizanishvili due to return to Blackburn Rovers this week, Newcastle boss Chris Hughton faces an absence of centre-half cover during the packed Christmas programme.[LNB] Khizanishvili's loan deal expires ahead of the weekend, and the Georgian centre-half is ineligible for Sunday's Tyne-Tees derby with Middlesbrough.[LNB] Hughton has opted not to extend his stay at St James' Park beyond an initial threemonth period at this stage, as he is hoping to complete a permanent transfer for Sheffield United defender Matt Kilgallon when the transfer window reopens at the start of next month.[LNB] Magpies officials discussed Kilgallon's position with their counterparts at Bramall Lane last month, and the two clubs are understood to have reached a provisional agreement that should see the 25- year-old move to Tyneside.[LNB] He cannot sign, on either a temporary or a permanent basis, until January, meaning Newcastle will be relying on Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini's availability throughout the festive period.[LNB] Tamas Kadar's inexperience was exposed earlier in the season, and the Hungarian was not even on the bench as the Magpies drew 2-2 with Barnsley at the weekend.[LNB] Danny Simpson could play at centre-half if needed, but the full-back, who is due to return to his parent club, Manchester United, on January 18, has not looked as comfortable on the small number of occasions he has been shuffled infield.[LNB] Therefore, Hughton will be desperately hoping that Taylor and Coloccini remain fit enough to compete a hectic spell that will see Newcastle face Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County in the space of eight days.[LNB] While Khizanishvili is unlikely to be returning to Tyneside in the second half of the season, Hughton is expected to make attempts to extend Simpson and striker Marlon Harewood's stay at St James'.[LNB] Harewood is due to return to Aston Villa after the Boxing Day game at Hillsborough the forward is ineligible for the December 28 game with Derby while Simpson's loan expires in mid-January after the home game with West Brom.[LNB] However, Hughton will make moves before the turn of the year aimed at securing both players' services for the second half of the season.[LNB] The Magpies manager is also adamant that he will rebuff outside interest in his own players, despite weekend speculation linking both Steven Taylor and Andy Carroll with moves away from the North-East.[LNB] Last January, Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia left Newcastle for Manchester City and Wigan respectively, but while Magpies fans are understandably suspicious of owner Mike Ashley's intentions next month, Hughton insists he will not be allowing any senior players to depart.[LNB] I do not anticipate anybody leaving in January, he said. Nobody will be going from my point of view, and we are working to bring people in more than anything else at this club. We certainly don't want to sell Andy Carroll or Steven Taylor.[LNB]
