Newcastle debut offers Nolan fresh start

Kevin Nolan, Newcastle’s four-million-pound recruit from Bolton, goes straight into the side to face Sunderland in the north-east derby on Sunday.

With both teams struggling to pull away from the relegation zone, the 26-year-old is bracing himself for a baptism of fire at St James’ Park after deciding to sever his ties with Bolton, where he had been since he was 17.

“It’s amazing how much hype I have heard since I heard about the move,” the midfielder said. “I didn’t even know they were playing Sunderland this weekend until I was on my way up here on Thursday night.

“It’s a massive game to come into and hopefully one in which we can get the win and start getting away from that relegation zone.”

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear moved to snap up Nolan after losing Joey Barton for over two months with a broken metatarsal and will be hoping that the Magpies reap the benefit of the attacking midfielder’s desire to re-establish his reputation as one of the most effective players of his type in the country.

Nolan admitted that the time had been right to leave Bolton for a fresh challenge.

“Everyone saw me as ‘Mr Bolton’, if you like, and it is about going to that next level and showing people what I am all about,” he said. “Hopefully, I can do that, and I thank Newcastle for giving me that opportunity.

“Just walking into the dining room there and seeing how many players were there and what a talented squad we have got, it’s just unbelievable.

“It is hopefully going to raise my level of performance and raise my game, and it’s down to me now to get my head down and work hard to get into this Newcastle team as quickly as possible.”

Kinnear added: “We are a very young side and when we lose experienced players, at the moment we have only got young players to go in and take their places.

“I needed to get somebody in who has seen it and done it and somebody who probably can nick us a goal when we need it.

“Kevin has had something like 350-plus games for Bolton and scored 50 or 60 goals and, hopefully, he will bring that sort of form to us.

“He is a decent character. We have got a quiet dressing room, so hopefully he will liven it up as well.”

Kinnear will be without Michael Owen for at least six weeks as a result of an ankle injury he suffered in midweek while goalkeeper Shay Given, who looks set for a move to Manchester City, is out with a knee problem.

Obafemi Martins, who is recovering from a hernia operation, and Mark Viduka (Achilles) are both close to returning, which will greatly increase Newcastle’s firepower but this match comes too soon for both the strikers.

In their absence, local boy Andy Carroll will again lead the Newcastle attack.

Sunderland make the short trip to Newcastle looking to complete their first double over their biggest rivals since the 1966-67 season, and claim revenge for the 2-0 defeat they suffered in the corresponding fixture last season.

Michael Owen’s double made the difference that afternoon and Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones admitted he and his team-mates were keen to make amends.

“Last year, it didn’t happen for us. You don’t want to go to your biggest rivals and lose by that margin, but that’s football, it happens. Hopefully this year, we can put it right.”