 DANNY SIMPSON has revealed that winning a Coca-Cola Championship medal with Newcastle United would mean even more to him than making his Manchester United debut. That’s quite a claim from the 21-year-old who was brought up through the ranks as a boyhood Red Devils fan under his mentor Sir Alex Ferguson. He believes tonight’s game with Derby County is not only one of United’s most important matches of the season as they look to maintain their momentum after crushing Cardiff City, but also one of the most crucial of his own career. Simpson feels tonight’s encounter could be one of the season’s defining moments, especially with West Brom and Nottingham Forest still breathing down United’s necks. The Mancunian defender was also part of Roy Keane’s Sunderland side that shot from bottom to top of the second tier in 2007 as a loanee from Manchester United. This time he feels that taking Newcastle back to the promised land of the Premier League would rate more highly, given the troubled backdrop at St James’ Park at the start of the season. Back then, with Mike Ashley’s future unknown and Chris Hughton in a caretaker role, nobody could have predicted that United would be topping the table going into the middle of February. Victory at Pride Park may go a long way towards ruling out a tense finish to the season as Newcastle look to pull away in the next six weeks and seal a top-flight place. Simpson told the Chronicle: “It went to the last home game with Sunderland – it was touch and go. “Winning promotion and a medal would be up there as far as my career overall is concerned. “If I can do a full season, and play as many games as I can and we get to the Premier League, it would be a massive achievement. “In fact, it would be the biggest achievement I’ve had in my career.” | 
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