Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Defenders a priority for Hughton

26 Jul 2010 - 15:24:48

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Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton has admitted that new defensive signings are his priority ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Hughton has added utility man James Perch and former Everton full-back Dan Gosling to his ranks in recent weeks.

However, with first-choice centre-back Steven Taylor struggling with a shoulder injury ahead of the new campaign, the current Magpies squad is short on numbers at the back.

"If I look at what we've got at this moment, defence is probably the area where we're a little bit light," Hughton told the Northern Echo.

"With Steven Taylor and James Perch missing, we had young James Tavernier, who is normally a right-back, playing at centre-back, young Shane Ferguson at left-back and Wayne Routledge playing in a very unfamiliar right-back position. Defensively, we are stretched."

Hughton has already admitted his interest in Manchester United youngster Tom Cleverley.

He added: "In terms of the bigger clubs, once they've made a decision on what they've got, then they will decide who they can let go on loan.

"It's a situation where we have to try to be on the pulse as much as we can and hopefully we'll be there to make a decision when we need to."