Hughton’s relishing the competition for places

Feb 8 2010

by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle

CHRIS HUGHTON has challenged his five-star Magpies to keep on making life difficult for him ahead of the trip to Pride Park tomorrow. In recent seasons Newcastle United’s host of managers have been left with plenty of problems to resolve on and off the field at St James’ Park. However, Hughton’s biggest problem at the moment is who to leave out, with competition for places hotting up at Gallowgate after the 5-1 demolition of Cardiff City. The Toon boss rested Alan Smith and Fabricio Coloccini on Friday night, but the pair come back into contention for encounter with Derby County. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT Also vying for a start is Shola Ameobi, while two-goal super- sub Peter Lovenkrands will also be disappointed if he is benched against the Rams, and former England star Nicky Butt wasn’t even a sub on Friday night. Hughton will be without longer-term casualties like Steven Taylor and Jose Enrique, but he told the Chronicle today: “The team is not picking itself like it was early in the season. “We want competition for places and when anybody comes in we demand certain qualities from them. “They have to show the determination and spirit like we did on Friday night against Cardiff. “I don’t mind having difficult decisions to make, that has to be a good thing. “Alan Smith is hoping to be back and Fabricio is doubtful with a slight hamstring. “Colo could have played on Friday but we decided as a precautionary measure to leave him out.”

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