NEWCASTLE UNITED caretaker boss Chris Hughton was the recipient of mixed news on his first day back in the Toon hotseat. Hughton, put in charge of first-team affairs until further notice by Mike Ashley due to Joe Kinnear’s heart problems, discovered Spanish striker Xisco has been rocked by a three-week lay-off due to a toe injury. However, £10m man Oba Martins is finally expected back for the clash with Everton on February 22 at St James’s Park. The £5.7m striker Xisco was beginning to find his feet at Gallowgate, and scored twice in Monday’s 5-0 reserve team win over Wigan before picking up a toe injury in the closing stages. However, Martins will be hoping it will be third time lucky for his comeback from a hernia operation after failing to make the cut for both the Sunderland game and then the trip to West Brom. The Nigerian was last seen in action at Portsmouth on December 14, where he scored in the 3-0 win. Martins clearly looked in pain after the match and had an operation on his hernia on January 12. In recent training sessions Martins’ expression has said it all after failing to make a full recovery from the injury but Hughton believes he will ready to go against Everton. Hughton told the Chronicle today: “Oba is back in training, and he will be available for the Everton game. “It will be great to see him back in action, and I am sure that will give everybody here a big boost.” Yet there were contrasting scenes at the club’s Benton base today for Xisco after the former Deportivo la Coruna ace discovered his goalscoring form in the reserves will be followed by a stint of rehab and another lay-off. Hughton said: “Xisco is expected to be out for three weeks, and it is a real blow. “He has a toe injury. At the time he did it, he tried to carry on, but he was struggling. “It is very, very swollen, and it is looking like a few weeks.” Hughton was at least given a lift by the sight of Alan Smith in that game against the Latics. The England international played in a central midfield role and captained a young side, while Cacapa also completed 90 minutes. Hughton added: “The game on Monday was an ideal time to involve some players. “Alan Smith, of course, came through fine, and Cacapa got 90 minutes. “They are all plusses, but, unfortunately, 10 minutes before the end Xisco suffered his injury. “If he had not, it would have been a good exercise all round.” | 
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