Hughton's Wish List (And A 'Wish' Is All It Will Be)

Last updated : 14 August 2009 By Footy Mad - Editor

NU

Hughton says Newcastle need “two or three” additions and he is getting ready to name names to the board.

At present the interim manager’s job description does not extend to transfers but with the deadline for signings fast approaching, he is preparing to "give it a go".

After a summer in which they have been the only league club in England not to add to their thinning squad, Hughton wants a change.

Chris Hughton: “The position I’m in at the moment hasn’t changed so much since pre-season.

“The nearer we get to the window it will probably become more and more difficult. At this moment, my remit and all my thoughts and efforts have been going very much into training this group of lads and preparing them for games.

“Some of the issues that might arise over the next few weeks haven’t arisen. But I appreciate that the nearer we get to the window, it will get more difficult.

“We’ve lost three players (Martins, Bassong and Beye) since the start of pre-season.

“If I look at the squad we’ve got at the moment, providing we don’t have too many injuries, I’d think we need the additions of two or three to the squad. But that’s keeping all the players we’ve got. At this present moment, we’ve got a squad I think is a very capable squad.

“There’s no doubt if we were to lose players, it would certainly get more difficult and being where we are and what we want to achieve this season, replacements would have to be brought in. I’ve not had a conversation about that yet. All the efforts from the club have been into selling the club and taking it the next step forward. But I certainly do anticipate that possibly, maybe as soon as after this weekend, some talks will have to take place about if any players were to go, the situation that would leave us in.

“You have to prepare yourself but at this moment (yesterday afternoon) I expect us to have the same squad tomorrow. If that was to change, of course the club has got to make decisions on what it would like to do about replacements.”