Magpies boss backs Fergie in Rooney dispute

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has backed Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson to get it right as he deals with the Wayne Rooney crisis.

The United manager confirmed at a remarkable press conference yesterday that Rooney wants to leave the club, but also insisted the door was still open for him to stay.

Ferguson has a track record of dealing with difficult situations in his own way, and in the past has moved on the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane and Jaap Stam and still taken the club forward

Hughton is confident the United boss will also satisfactorily resolve the Rooney issue.

He said: “It’s indicative of the modern era. Was it a surprise? Yes, it was as big a surprise to me as it was to everybody else.

“But there is no better manager than Sir Alex and no better club than Manchester United to sort out that situation, and I am quite sure they will go about their business in the appropriate way.”