Kids Take On the Villians

Newcastle United Under-18s get their campaign underway with the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday (11am kick-off, Little Benton Academy).

United squad as follows for The Villains clash; 1 Trialist 2 Phil Airey 3 Paul Dummet 4 Brad Inman 5 Matthew Grieve 6 James Taylor 7 Samuel Adjei 8 Greg McDermott 9 Sammy Ameobi 10 Haris Vuckic 11 Shane Ferguson 12 Jeff Henderson 13 Andy Mogwo 14 Aaron Spear 15 Ryan Page 16 Stephen Folan 17 Ben Robinson

Shola Ameobi Had This to Say After The Sheff Wed Match

talking to nufcTV

"I was with Lee Grant at England Under-21s and he's a very good keeper - he's very agile and has got a great spring. Unfortunately for me he was on top form tonight. He's made a couple of fantastic saves from me but thankfully one goal was enough to win it. But if it wasn't for him I dare say I might have got another hat-trick.

I was getting closed down so I was thinking just get away an early shot because you often find that catches the keeper off guard and that was certainly the case. He said to me after the game that he didn't expect me to shoot so early and I was delighted to see it hit the back of the net. But it's another wonderful result for us. The game wasn't as fluid as Saturday, but this is the Championship and sometimes you have to grind results out and we certainly did that."

talking to The Chronicle Shola said

“We haven’t got many players. I thought that showed. There are a lot of heavy legs. There’s a lot of games, and we haven’t got many players to rotate. The games are coming thick and fast, and we had to dig deep now. We haven’t been used to playing back-to-back games like that, but we ground it out and produced the win.

It wasn’t a performance like Saturday – it was a different type of game. The had to grind it out, and we’re delighted to have come out with another win.

With a lot of goals, you can catch the keeper out by taking it early, and I think that was the case. There wasn’t that much space to squeeze through, but thankfully it slipped by him. For strikers, goals breed confidence. That’s nothing new. I’m obviously delighted to have contributed. I’ve got a lot of confidence and, hopefully, I can ride it and help us win as many games as possible.

It was testament to our fans. I read before the game that we’d had the fourth-highest attendance in the country, and that’s testament to our fanbase, and the people who want to come and support us. It would have been so easy for the fans to desert us after going down – but they’re what’s making us fight like we are.”

New Boy Danny Simpson Had This to Say After Sheff Wed Match

talking to nufcTV

"I'm delighted. I've come in for my debut and we've kept a clean sheet and got the win. We've got seven points on the board now, we're back up to third and everyone goes home happy.

It was such a buzz walking out into the stadium for the first time - a crowd of 44,000 in the Championship is unbelievable. But credit to them, it's a massive help for us and when you can hear them it gives you a lift. With their help we can make this place a fortress this season."

Caretaker Manager Chris Hughton Pre Match Comments

on Nicky Butts return he said to nufcTV

"We're delighted to have Nicky back in the squad for Palace, We will need players of experience and quality to get out of this division and Nicky has stwo in abundance."

on Danny Simpson debut he said to nufcTV

"It was a solid debut, There were probably times when he could have got forward that little bit more, but it was his first game at St.James' and I'm sure that can be quite daunting for a young player. But he showed good composure at times and I'm sure as he continues to settle in we'll see a lot more from him."

Colin Calderwood Coach Pre Match Comments

on Andy Carroll Fitness he said to nufcTV

"Andy is still 50-50 and we'll have another look at him this morning," But what we won't do is risk players. We'd rather they missed one game than three or four. But Andy still has a chance so we'll see how he gets on today (Friday 21st)."

on Joey Barton's Fitness he said to nufcTV

"I think the doctor's order is for Joey to rest over the weekend, We've got Nicky Butt and Danny Guthrie coming back so, what you lose with one hand, you gain with the other. Joey will do some light training on Friday morning but Saturday will come too soon."

Captain Nicky Butt Pre Match Comments

he said to nufcTV

"The worst thing you can do in this league is to sit back and admire your last victory because you can easily become a cropper. On the other hand, building up momentum and confidence makes you stronger in the next match. That's the secret - stringing together a sequence of good results rather than just getting one here and there.

I started full training at the beginning of the week and if all goes to plan I should be available for selection. The left hand is healing steadily and I'm getting regular treatment from the physios, but any professional wants to be out there on the pitch doing the business, so Derek Wright and his team will understand what I mean when I say I don't want to see much more of them between now and May!"

Obefemi Martins Talks

to the BBC

"This is a great chance for me to get my career back on track, A lot of people said I should have stayed in England but my decision was purely on professional grounds and had nothing to do with financial sentiments. I had a wonderful time with the fans, players and management of Newcastle United but once I spoke to Wolfsburg, I saw a fresh start. Newcastle United will forever stay in my heart just like [his former club] Inter Milan but I have a whole lot of work to do now for Wolfsburg.

I gave my all to the club and the fans know that, unfortunately things went awry on and off the pitch, I have fond memories of Newcastle but now am settling down nicely to a new language, culture, team-mates and football. The Bundesliga is one of the strongest leagues in the world and I'm very happy to be playing for the German champions.

I have faced challenges in the past but my coming here is to improve the club and compete professionally. We can do so much together for the benefit of the club and I feel elated having them as team-mates - the future looks very bright."

New Mag On Sale

The first Mag issue of the season - number 238 - goes on sale ahead of this Saturday's home game. Priced @ £2.50 it's available from local news vendors, street sellers on the approaches to SJP and The Back Page on St.Andrews Street

"The Mag was born in 1988, just after we’d sold Gazza and the first game was when he actually came back with Spurs and he was pelted with Mars Bars!" Mark Jensen Editor