 CHRIS Hughton has appealed for the trust of Newcastle United’s supporters after admitting slow progress in his summer recruitment drive. The Newcastle boss, who is back in the North East after a short break, is no nearer to bringing in new players and most of his acknowledged targets would be on loan. Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley and Manchester City’s Slovakian international Vladimir Weiss are three confirmed names on his hitlist. And while he understands there may be concern among United supporters anxious about their need to bring in new faces, the Magpies boss says there is no need to panic. “We’ve not really moved forward over the last few weeks – we’re still working on our targets,” Hughton said. “I know from a supporter’s point of view they want to be hearing names and they want to be seeing us bringing in new players as soon as possible. That is totally understandable and I can understand their feelings. “But for me the most important thing is that we bring in the right players that we need to bring in. “I have been offered players by agents but I don’t feel they would add anything significant to the squad. “I am having a lot of conversations at the moment and work is on-going. I don’t feel that we can afford to just wait and see what happens, we know we want to bring players in before the start of the season. “I would just say to them that we do want to bring in the right players and I feel confident that we will bring in the right players.” Needing to bring in new players has been a familiar summer refrain for United but this year there is added urgency as they hope to cement their place in England’s elite league after a year in the Championship. Newcastle have Wolves and Birmingham as their blueprint for staying in the top flight without huge investment, but it should be noted that both of those West Midlands clubs have spent heavily already this summer. Hughton believes that his existing players are good enough to form the basis of a competitive side in the top flight but he, like senior man Steve Harper, recognises the need to add a few more players to the squad. Hughton is understood to be looking for a right back, a winger and a striker as priorities – with the need for a full-back exacerbated by an injury that will rule Danny Simpson out of the start of the season. There is worry amongst the club’s supporters about United’s willingness to spend, not helped by the statement issued by the board in May. But Hughton earned their trust by healing a fractured club last summer and delivering an unexpected promotion at the first time of asking. “I said all along that we have good players here who will be better for that experience in the Championship,” he said. “We can’t forget that and they will form the basis of the team for next season.” Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna have announced they will entertain Newcastle in an August 3 game for the Trofeo Teresa Herrera. The Spanish giants have contested the trophy every year since 1946. Newcastle’s last trip to the Riazor was in the 2005 InterToto Cup. The Magpies are yet to confirm the fixture but most of United’s pre-season games this summer have been announced much earlier by the opposition. | 
Article
