NICKY Butt is set to commit himself to Newcastle for at least another season after yesterday’s contract talks with Joe Kinnear progressed without any significant hitches.

With only a couple of minor clauses to be ironed out, Kinnear is confident that Butt will commit his future to the Magpies.

This will be welcome news for the Newcastle boss who was keen to agree new deals with the quartet of players whose contracts are set to expire next summer.

And with an offer on the table for Michael Owen, Kinnear has also opened discussions with striker Shola Ameobi and reserve goalkeeper Steve Harper to secure their services before they become free agents at the end of the season.

Butt has a clause in his contract that guarantees him the option of another year at St James’ Park once he played 19 games this season. With the former Man United and England midfielder making his 15th appearance of the campaign in Sunday’s 3-0 victory at Portsmouth, Kinnear has offered Butt the opportunity to sign the deal now.

With Joey Barton’s knee-ligament injury expected to keep the former Man City midfielder out until well into the new year, the Newcastle manager was becoming concerned by the lack of experience in the centre of the park.

But he will have been encouraged by Danny Guthrie’s impressive form that was capped by a superbly-taken goal at Fratton Park.

“It was special because it came in front of our fans. It was great to get off the mark,” said the former Liverpool player.

“I just want to chip in with as many goals as I can and hopefully become a goalscoring midfielder.

“It was a massive win for us and hopefully we can now push on. The league is so tight at the moment.

Spurs is a big game and we now need to make it consecutive wins and keep moving upwards.’’ Obafemi Martins’ chances of featuring in the g a m e w i t h T o t - t e n - h a m a r e looki n g i n - creasingly remote with the striker struggling to recover from a groin injury.

Martins limped off in pain after grabbing his sixth league goal of the campaign.

The Magpies’ assistant boss Chris Hughton is hoping Martins’ problem will not keep him out of their busy festive programme.

“Oba felt his groin go after scoring on Sunday and he was in for treatment on Monday.

“All we can do is to assess the injury as the week goes on and we should know more in the next couple of days as to the extent of the problem”

said Hughton.

“Obviously, with the holiday period coming up, we want all our players fit and on this score we are as healthy as we have been all season.’’