Newcastle Utd v Hull City:NEWCASTLE MANAGER Joe Kinnear is even more determined to hang on to his best players as a new injury crisis grips the club.
The 62-year-old has spent the fortnight since the January transfer window opened having to fend off speculation that the likes of Shay Given, Michael Owen, Charles N’Zogbia, Joey Barton and Alan Smith could be sold off, some at their own request and others to fund his own spending mission.
“In my eyes, Shay is still going nowhere,” said Kinnear. “He’s got a major role here, as has Michael Owen. And they both proved they are focused and committed to this club.”
However, Kinnear, who revealed the club is in advanced discussions with two unidentified players – one Italian and the other Argentinian – over loan deals, heads into tonight’s tie with Hull with 11 key men confined to the treatment room and even more insistent that there will be no significant departures from St James’ Park this month.
Asked about the rumours surrounding Given, Barton and N’Zogbia in particular in recent days, he said: “None of those [will leave], no. That’s been ongoing for ages. We are just in a position where we have got 11 key players missing, so it is impossible for me to even think about selling anybody else.
“We would only weaken our team and weaken our opportunities of survival.”
Hardly a day has gone by since the transfer window opened without quotes attributed to either N’Zogbia or his agent suggesting he is ready to quit Tyneside appearing somewhere, most often in his native France.
Agent Frank Peslerbe yesterday claimed Lyon were interested with Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa also having been identified as potential suitors in the past, while N’Zogbia told www.lyoncapitale.fr: “There have been some changes at Newcastle recently. I have experienced six different managers in four years, and it is too much. Every season is getting worse and worse despite the lofty goals of the club. I therefore decided to leave, to try to find better exposure.”
Kinnear, however, did admit he could be prepared to allow some of his fringe players leave.
“We have got a meeting this evening to talk about the situation and how far down the road we are.
“We have got one or two fringe players who we have had offers for, reasonable offers, so I might consider letting them go, and if that money does come in – which will amount to about £4.5 million – from them, I will be in a position to get the player I want.”
In the meantime, Kinnear hopes to sign up 28-year-old Denmark international winger Peter Lovenkrands, who began a trial on Tyneside on Monday, until the end of the season on Friday, while he confirmed substantial loan fees have been agreed for two overseas players.
Kinnear admitted as the winter window opened that he hopes to recruit as many as four or five new players, and events since have simply increased his needs.
Andy Carroll, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi, Mark Viduka, Smith, Barton, Steven Taylor, Habib Beye, Claudio Cacapa, Jose Enrique and Geremi will all miss tonight’s game.
Hull manager Phil Brown is likely to rotate his squad for the game.
Striker Caleb Folan (knee) will travel after two months out while fringe defenders Ryan France and Nathan Doyle are also in contention.
Winger Peter Halmosi has been assured he will play some part but midfielder Bryan Hughes misses out because of a knock. Full-back Andy Dawson (Achilles) and Anthony Gardner (thigh) are likely to remain sidelined.
