Hughton calls on Campbell experience

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton believes Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor will provide apt cover for suspended duo Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson.

Campbell’s only start so far this season came in a League Cup win over Chelsea in September, and the former Arsenal man will again front up against the reigning champions, this time in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Sunday.

But with Coloccini and Williamson both suspended after incidents involving Bolton striker Johan Elmander during last weekend’s 5-1 defeat, Hughton insists he has full confidence in Campbell and Taylor.”At the moment, we have four natural centre-halves and two of them are out suspended,” Hughton said.”Campbell and Taylor are both very, very good players. One thing you learn the more years you are in football is you have to adapt.””Sometimes that can strengthen you, sometimes it doesn’t, but what you have to do is get on with it, be very, very positive about what you do have and the qualities you have, and hopefully that will show on Sunday.””It is not just us, most clubs losing their two central defenders would be stretched – we have seen that, of course, even at the club the magnitude of Chelsea.”Campbell was once a commanding presence at the centre of defence for England but has seen his chances at Newcastle limited by niggling injuries.”He would have hoped to have played – and I am quite sure he would have played – more football, but these things happen,” Hughton said.

“He is a vastly experienced player who has played against the top teams, and that experience has been good around the place.”Joey Barton serves the final game of a ban but Cheik Tiote returns from suspension. Shola Ameobi is doubtful with a hamstring problem.