Souness aware of cup pitfalls
Graeme Souness heads for Grimsby and a possible Carling Cup tomorrow well aware of the pressure he is under at St James’ Park.
The Newcastle United boss has been lifted by Sunday’s derby victory over Sunderland but knows the Geordie fans will not be happy should their team fail to win tomorrow’s Carling Cup third round tie at Blundell Park.
But Souness takes it all philosophically saying: “That’s the price on the ticket.
“It’s only October 25 and yes, we have been dodgy lately. But I am not a muppet. I know the type of football I want us to play and we have not been able to play it because we have been without some of our most creative players.”
One of those creative players, Kieron Dyer, is back in the Newcastle squad for the first time since the end of August because of groin and hamstring problems.
But two others in Emre (hamstring) and Scott Parker (dead leg) are doubtful with five more players – Michael Owen, Stephen Carr, Lee Bowyer, Steve Harper and Craig Moore – already ruled out through injury.
Newcastle have often been on the wrong end of cup upsets against the so-called minnows but Souness knows the Carling Cup provides one of the routes into Europe and he stressed that unlike some of the other Premiership managers he could not be taking the competition more seriously.
The Newcastle boss added: “This competition is important to us because if we can get through tomorrow night and then get a home tie we will be in business.
“However, Grimsby are doing well in their league and they will cause us problems. There is no doubt of that.
“But how we do will depend on how quickly we deal with those problems and we can get to play our own game.
“We have got a strong squad and a squad we believe is good enough to get us a result on the night.
“But we will show Grimsby the utmost respect . They knocked out Spurs in the previous round and they will fancy doing the same to us and we will have to make sure we are up for the challenge.”
One of the first players on the United team sheet tomorrow will be Peter Ramage after the young full-back’s display on Sunday.
Souness said: “Obviously Ramage is not used to playing at left-back, but if we don’t need him elsewhere that’s where he will play at Grimsby tomorrow night.
“He is the type of guy you want to work with. He’s keen to learn every day and he never knows when he is beaten.
“The ball smacked him in the face on Sunday and he didn’t even blink. So with Steven Taylor we have two players like that now.”
Sunday’s derby was only the third start for the 21-year-old Geordie but Ramage said: “That was the pinnacle of my career so far but that’s gone now.
“What I have got to do now is to stay in the team and hopefully I will play at Grimsby tomorrow night.”
