Newcastle United Football Club News

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

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

Kinnear welcomes headache

12 Nov 2008 - 12:56:51

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Newcastle United's interim manager Joe Kinnear has welcomed the selection headache brought about by a return to fitness of several established first-team players.

Kinnear was able to name Michael Owen, Geremi, Charles N'Zogbia and Danny Guthrie on the substitutes bench for Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Fulham and was delighted with the strength of squad now at his disposal.

"I won't be complaining about having too many good players," he told the club's official website.

"When I first came we were struggling a bit for numbers, but now the likes of Jonas Gutierrez, Joey Barton and Habib Beye are back.

"That means some other very good players have had to miss out. But that can only be good for competition.

"I'm sure we'll soon be out of the bottom three, not only because it's really tight down there and one win takes you clear, but because we've got top players who are capable of putting a run together."

Meanwhile, American billionaire Philip Anschutz, whose AEG company own London's O2 Arena among other assets, has denied reports that he is interested in buying the Magpies.

Current owner Mike Ashley put the club up for sale in September following the criticism he received the wake of Kevin Keegan's departure as manager.

"Neither AEG nor anyone affiliated with the organisation are in negotiations or are contemplating the purchase of Newcastle United Football Club," read a statement on behalf of Anschutz.