Hughton is happy with Best signing (From The Northern Echo)

Hughton is happy with Best signing

9:15am Tuesday 2nd February 2010 in

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CHRIS Hughton claims “the best is yet to come” after Leon Best signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Newcastle United yesterday.

Best completed a permanent switch from Coventry City for an undisclosed fee of around £500,000 on transferdeadline day to complete a busy month that also saw the Magpies sign five other players.

The 23-year-old striker impressed for Coventry in the first half of the season, scoring ten goals in 26 appearances despite the Sky Blues’ struggles in the bottom half of the Championship table.

He has already played for seven clubs on either a loan or permanent basis, but having scouted him extensively in the last few months, Hughton expects him to come into his own at St James’ Park.

“We feel there’s a lot more to come from Leon, and that we can bring out the best in him,” said the Newcastle boss.

“He’s 23 and that is a very good age.

“I think what we wanted was different types of strikers.

We know we’re going into the business end of the season and have to be able to compete on all fronts.

“He’s different - he’s got a bit of power and a bit of pace.

He’s a lad that has played in this division and is used to it.

More importantly, he’s also got lots of potential.”

Best is one of four players to have joined Newcastle on a permanent basis this month, and all boast experience of life in the Championship.

Danny Simpson and Mike Williamson bolster a defence that will be without the injured Steven Taylor for a number of months yet, while Wayne Routledge offers some natural width on the righthand side.

The quartet should assist Newcastle’s attempts to remain in the automatic promotion places, but supporters have questioned whether they will be good enough to survive in the Premier League if the club is promoted.

Hughton has always insisted that guaranteeing promotion this season must be the priority, but the United boss refutes suggestions that he has completely ignored the future.

“It is not a case of bringing in players who will only do a job for us in the Championship,”

he said. “Wayne Routledge has Premier League experience, and Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson and Leon Best are players we feel can develop.

“Can they become regular Premier League players? That really is up to the individual and how they develop at the club. But they are all a good age and, for me, the most important thing is they all have ability and the potential to develop into that kind of player.’’ He added: “For me, it is more exciting to bring in players where you can see the potential.

Of course, the most important thing is to get into the Premier League – we have to get there first.”

Having also been given the green light to sign Fitz Hall and Patrick van Aanholt on loan, Hughton has been happy with the support he has received from Newcastle’s owners.

“I am delighted with what we have done, and I have no complaints about the backing I have got from the owner,” he said.

“We have got good value for money and I believe the squad is in better shape now.’’ While Best’s arrival represented Newcastle’s only piece of incoming business on deadline day, the club also confirmed Geremi’s departure to Turkish side Ankaragucu.