Hughton wary of Pool threat

Magpies boss expecting difficult encounter this weekend

Last updated: 9th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hughton wary of Pool threat

Hughton: Ready for Seasiders

We can be confident but it's important to look at getting a victory, whatever way that comes, than how many we're going to score.

Chris Hughton.
Quotes of the week

SKY SPORTS ON SKY

There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more.

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton has warned his men not to underestimate fellow Premier League new-boys Blackpool on Saturday.

The last time the Magpies played on home soil they routed Aston Villa 6-0 and Hughton is pleased with the way his side have started the season.

But the Newcastle boss has warned that counterpart Ian Holloway will be trying to upset the Toon Army at St James' Park as the Tangerines rock into Tyneside scenting another Premier League scalp.

"What we've tried to do over a period of time is manage the expectations and that is the case against Blackpool," Hughton told The Chronicle.

"We're talking about a Blackpool side that went to Wigan and scored four goals. So if that is a reminder to anybody that it's not going to be easy then so be it.

"They are a team on the same points as us and they have started the season equally to us. And when you look at the table and see some teams have yet to get off the mark, that shows how well they've done.

"We can be confident but it's important to look at getting a victory, whatever way that comes, than how many we're going to score."

Dilemma

Hughton faces a selection dilemma ahead of the Seasiders' visit, with Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheick Tiote keen to make their league debuts.

French international Ben Arfa has had a fortnight to get used to life on Tyneside, while Tiote is also pressing for a starting berth after starring for the Ivory Coast during the international break in their victory over Rwanda.

Hughton, who must also decide on whether Sol Campbell is ready for the clash with the Bloomfield Road side, said: "For both of them it is important they get to know the group.

"Ben Arfa wants to have the games he came here for, but he has been training with the group and has been impressed by the standard we have here.

"These are decisions which need to be made and will be made.

"It is the same for Cheik - he only arrived here this week and has not had the chance to get to know the players too well yet. We have not seen too much of Cheick so far.

"Once the transfer was completed he had to go back to Holland for a period to sort things out and then he went away on international duty with the Ivory Coast."