Hopes rise for Hughes return

RICHIE BYRNE: One-month contract

LEE HUGHES could make his comeback from injury when Athletic face MK Dons at Boundary Park on Saturday.

The striker is recovering well from a groin problem and has not been written out of boss John Sheridan’s plans.

Hughes – scorer of a hat-trick in Athletic’s last home league game against Cheltenham – won’t be risked if there is any danger of him suffering a setback.

He picked up a minor strain in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie with Morecambe last week, but assistant manager Tommy Wright issued a positive update.

Wright said: “Hughesy is coming along well and has improved greatly over the last few days.

“He isn’t back in training just yet, but there’s still time before the game on Saturday. At this stage I’d say he has got a chance.”

Defender Stefan Stam has reached a similar point in his own recovery from a groin strain picked up against Morecambe.

Stam, who has made three appearances in knock-out competitions this term, hopes to be fit within the next week.

In his absence, high-flying Athletic have signed Republic of Ireland ‘B’ international Richie Byrne to cover them at both centre-half and left-back.

Byrne agreed a one-month contract over the weekend and was lining up for the reserves today in a private friendly at Blackburn.

The 26-year-old was pencilled in at full-back as Athletic named a strong team and gave match practice to most of the players who have been on the bench this season.

Goalkeeper Greg Fleming, utility man Kieran Lee and midfielder Dale Stephens have all been involved at senior level without playing in the league, while two more summer signings, Kevin Maher and Chris O’Grady, have started one league game apiece.

Athletic also included a trialist midfielder, but transfer-listed JP Kalala was unavailable.

The squad was: Fleming, Rowney, Thompson, Dawson, Byrne, Maher, Lee, Stephens, trialist, Smalley, O’Grady, Eaves, Kilcourse, Esdaile-Biney, Cowan, Bembo-Leta, Bell.




SPURS first–team coach Gus Poyet has insisted there is “nothing at all” in reports linking him to the vacant Newcastle manager’s job.



The Uruguayan has been installed as one of the favourites to replace Kevin Keegan after the former England striker quit St James’ Park for the second time last week.

The presence of Dennis Wise as Newcastle’s executive director (football) was seen as a major reason for Keegan’s discontent, but given Poyet’s successful partnership with his former Chelsea team–mate at Leeds, he was immediately seen as a candidate for the job.

But Poyet insists he has no plans for a reunion with Wise in the north–east and is happy with life under Juande Ramos at White Hart Lane.