Newcastle United (From The Northern Echo)

Newcastle United

THE Northern Echo sports writers must watch different matches to me as I cannot believe the marks you constantly give Nicky Butt.

Again last week against Leicester he was rewarded with a six!

Butt was past it a few seasons ago when he went on loan to Birmingham and sent them into the Championship, he was a major cause of the disaster last season; his legs have gone.

In the Leicester game he never won a header, his passing of the ball was appalling and he should be nowhere near our team – where are all the young ones and the young hopes?

Mike Dixon, by email ALTHOUGH in the Championship League, Newcastle United have maintained their brilliant attendance record showing that they have as good a fan base as any team in the world. With 18 more games to play this season and with an injury problem Newcastle have taken full advantage of the now closed player transfer window; the final four players all with youth on their side. As promised Mike Ashley has made funds available and it appears that Hughton has spent wisely doing what Ashley wanted Dennis Wise to do in Europe.

For once Newcastle have a manager who is a thinker and is adding class as well as youth to the squad; although narrowly missing out on Beckford, a class young striker.

Newcastle has landed the Dutch left-back Patrick Van Aanholt for a month following the hamstring problem with Jose Enrique.

Mike Williamson was signed on January 27, 2010.

He made his debut on 27 January in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in which he played the full 90 minutes winning “man of the match”. Wayne Routledge impressed Portsmouth boss Harry Rednapp when loaned to Portsmouth. Danny Simpson is a produce of the Manchester United youth system having come up through the ranks into the reserve squad in 2005; when out on a full season loan at Blackburn in 2008 he played top-level football and has openly said he enjoyed playing for Newcastle.

Bernard McCormick, Newton Aycliffe