Magpies won't rush Kinnear

Manager will not be allowed to return to the touchline ahead of schedule

Last updated: 28th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Magpies won't rush Kinnear

Kinnear: Recovering

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Newcastle United are not prepared to allow manager Joe Kinnear to return to the touchline before he is fully fit.

The Magpies boss is currently recovering from heart surgery, and assistant Chris Hughton is in caretaker charge of the Premier League strugglers.

Kinnear has pencilled in the meeting with relegation rivals Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on 11th April as a possible date for his return.

However, Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias insists Kinnear will only be allowed to return if he is ready.

Desperate

Llambias said: "Joe is desperate to come back, but we have to be sensible with him.

"If anything we are going to have to hold him back at times because he is so enthusiastic. We can't have him leaping around the touchline."

Llambias, though, has rubbished rumours that Kinnear has suffered a set back in his rehabilitation process.

"Joe is looking good and feeling a lot stronger. I've been to see him this week and he was back to his old self," he added.

"He goes for tests on 6th April and as long as the results come back OK, he will be back at the training ground for a couple of days before the Stoke game and we'll take it from there."