Newcastle stars back under-fire boss Hughton

Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan insists the club’s under-fire manager Chris Hughton still has the complete support of his squad.

Reports following Newcastle’s 4-0 thrashing by Arsenal in the League Cup on Wednesday suggested Hughton could be in danger of losing his job.

The Premier League club responded by issuing a statement on Hughton’s future which gave no indication he was close to being sacked.

But Newcastle face bitter rivals Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby this Sunday and it has been suggested a defeat in that fixture could spell the end of Hughton’s tenure on Tyneside.

However, Nolan is adamant whatever the result against Sunderland all the players will back Hughton, who led Newcastle to promotion from the Championship last season.

“No matter what happens on Sunday we are going to still be 110 per cent behind Chris Hughton,” Nolan told Sky Sports News.

“For the statements, for anything else we don’t care what anyone else says outside. As a group of players, as a squad, as a staff and I believe as fans too we believe we are going in the right direction and the main focal point and the main leader in that is Chris Hughton.

“I think the talk is absolutely ridiculous on him having to win a game to stay in his job, it is absolutely ridiculous.”