Hughton’s second stint calling the Toon is ‘more enjoyable’

CHRIS HUGHTON has admitted he is enjoying life as caretaker Newcastle boss much better second time around.

The former Tottenham defender was thrown in at the deep end in September when Kevin Keegan sensationally walked out of St James’ Park, and found the going tough as the Magpies embarked upon a run of four successive defeats under his charge.

He went back to his coaching role when Joe Kinnear was appointed as caretaker later that same month, but has found himself back in the limelight once again with the 62-year-old recovering from heart surgery.

However, as he prepares his side for tomorrow’s trip to Bolton on the back of a victory at West Brom and last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Everton, Hughton is a much happier man.

He said: “I am enjoying it more because we have been able to pick up a couple of decent results.

“They are the things that disappoint you more than anything. The workings of the week are no different to before, my involvement is no different to before, but at the end of it, it is more pleasing when you are able to get some results.”

Managing director Derek Llambias this week confirmed that Hughton and fellow coach Colin Calderwood will remain in charge until Kinnear returns – he has been ordered to rest for at least eight weeks.

That represents a significant vote of confidence in Hughton as the club continues its battle for top-flight survival.

He said: “It is pleasing, but that’s probably just a mark of where we are at the moment.

“The window has finished, we are on the back of a few decent results and what they have sensed is that things have settled down a little bit.

“Amongst all of that, they have felt there was no need to change things.

“But the important thing is that we have still got to pick up results.”

Kinnear is still having an input, albeit from the other end of a telephone, and watching matches on television, although Hughton is not sure how relaxing that will be for him.

He said: “I can imagine Joe getting very excited and very agitated watching the games – but you would expect nothing different from Joe.”

Both men will have been delighted with the recent form of France Under-21 international defender Sebastien Bassong, who turned in a stubborn display against Everton after seeing team-mate Kevin Nolan sent off before the break.

Nolan misses out against his former club as a result, but Bassong will meet the challenge provided by striker Kevin Davies head-on, insisting he is not even thinking about relegation: “Every game is a pleasure to me. It is going to be all right. There are no relegation thoughts in my head.”