Hughton Calling On Nolan For Cup Success

Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton has praised his midfielder Kevin Nolan for his performance this season. Nolan, who has scored 11 goals, making him the clubs top scorer so far for 2009/2010, hasn't played since December 28th after being rested for the initial 3rd round tie and then seeing their last Championship game postponed.

Hughton told The Chronicle;

"Kevin has been a wonderful player for us this season. He's made a great contribution. I'm aware of when his last game was and when our next game is. And it's just about getting the right balance.

If I look at the reason why Kevin has scored so many goals it's because he can play off the front one or the front two. We've given him a bit of a license at times."

He added;

"If you are scoring goals and enough of them to win games, this is the most important thing. We'd like to have some of our players on more goals.

What's more important is we have been winning games. It always creates healthy banter in training.

Strikers always want goals, and I think as a coach or a manager you judge your players on what effect they can have on the game."

Looking ahead at the Plymouth replay tomorrow night he said;

"It will be an experienced team that plays tomorrow night. We rested some experienced players at Plymouth in the first game.

The three younger players we used at Plymouth were Tim Krul, Nile Ranger and Tamas Kadar, but this time we will have a team that is more experienced."

FA CUP REPLAY MATCH PREVIEW: NEWCASTLE UNITED v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE HERE