Source: Team_Talk
Hughton hails Nolan's goal 'knack'
Nolan's predatory 74th-minute effort lifted Hughton's men above West Brom into top spot in the Championship table - and served as further notice of their promotion pedigree.[LNB]The former Bolton captain broke the deadlock with a clinical low left-footed drive to register his ninth goal of the season and send the huge army of Magpies supporters into raptures.[LNB]Nolan endured a nightmare campaign last season after joining Newcastle in January and becoming part of the side that slid out of the Premier League in such dismal fashion.[LNB]Yet he is doing his best to ensure the Tyneside outfit make an immediate return to the top flight by recapturing the goalscoring form and drive that once saw him tipped to win full England honours.[LNB]Hughton said: "We've been able to keep clean sheets - that was our ninth of the season - and we have a goalscorer in Kevin Nolan.[LNB]"It was heading for a 0-0 and Kevin has the knack of getting in the right places at the right time.[LNB]"He has that composure and he scored goals at Bolton.[LNB]"We took him last season after he'd had an ankle operation, so he perhaps never got to full fitness last term.[LNB]"Kevin can play centre midfield or just off the front man, where he is also an excellent link-up player."[LNB]Alan Smith, another player who looks back to his best, played a pivotal role alongside Nolan in the middle of the park and the Magpies captain showed his stomach for the fight remains firmly intact with a fine display.[LNB]Having been booked early on in the first half, Smith was perhaps fortunate to escape a second yellow midway through the second period after a stray elbow left former Sunderland striker Chris Brown covered in blood.[LNB]Hughton added: "The first one was a booking but the second one wasn't.[LNB]"It's a nice feeling to be back on top of the league, particularly pleasing after West Brom went top over the weekend, but there are teams in this division who want to knock you off the top.[LNB]"There's a real desire not to lose games and if you don't lose then you have a chance of winning."[LNB]Defeat was harsh on Preston, who gave Newcastle several worrying moments but lacked the kind of killer finish that Nolan provided.[LNB]And the Lancashire club were left reeling after Youl Mawene sustained medial ligament damage to his right knee on the stroke of half-time following a collision with North End goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.[LNB]He was taken straight to hospital and Preston boss Alan Irvine revealed: "Youl has a knee injury which we fear might be quite bad.[LNB]"There was a little nudge from their striker (Marlon Harewood) and a collision with Lonners, but those sort of things happen.[LNB]"Callum Davidson also felt his hamstring go tight and we had to bring him off too.[LNB]"That happened right before they scored the goal and that certainly didn't help us."[LNB]It was a damaging blow to Preston's play-off prospects but Irvine at least had the consolation of a promising display from debutant Michael Tonge following his arrival on loan from Stoke.[LNB]Irvine added: "Michael was very good and I was amazed that he could play 90 minutes when you see how little football he had played.[LNB]"I thought we performed well overall and it was a bit harsh - we got undone by a very good piece of finishing.[LNB]"We've seen Kevin Nolan do that on many occasions and he's got the quality to be able to do that."[LNB][LNB]