It was hardly surpising to see Newcastle boss Chris Hughton hail Kevin Nolan after his strike secured a 1-0 victory at Preston ... on another night when the midfielder came to the rescue.

Chris Hughton: "We've been able to keep clean sheets - that was our ninth of the season - and we have a goalscorer in Kevin Nolan.

"It was heading for a 0-0 and Kevin has the knack of getting in the right places at the right time.

"He has that composure and he scored goals at Bolton.

"We took him last season after he'd had an ankle operation, so he perhaps never got to full fitness last term.

"Kevin can play centre midfield or just off the front man, where he is also an excellent link-up player."