Butt helping Magpies on Roed to recovery
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder is backing revitalised midfielder Nicky Butt’s winning mentality to inspire a Premiership recovery for the Magpies.
The Magpies extended their unbeaten run to four games with Thursday night’s excellent UEFA Cup victory over Celta Vigo to ensure their place in the last 32.
However, they will return to Barclays Premiership action against Portsmouth on Sunday looking for a first league win since September 17 and a first at home since the opening day of the campaign.
Injuries have taken their toll so far this season, but the return to form of 31-year-old former Manchester United and England star Butt, who might have left the club during the summer after a year on loan at Birmingham, has proved a major bonus.
Roeder, who worked with the midfielder in the international set-up under Glenn Hoddle, insists he never doubted Butt’s quality.
He said: “I am not surprised. I saw him when we played Birmingham at the end of last season and I said to him after the game: ‘I am looking forward to working with you next year, Nicky’.
“I do not think he was sure if I was telling him the truth. But having worked with him for two-and-a-half years and him knowing a bit about me, he should know I always speak the truth.
“I looked forward to him coming back for pre-season and I am not surprised at all that I have been able to use him so many times.
“His experience is very important to us bearing in mind there is no-one in our dressing room who has the same level of experience at European level or Premiership level, and certainly no-one who has won anywhere near the medals he has.
“He is a valuable part of the squad.”
Butt, like Turkey international Emre, picked up a knock in Thursday night’s game, although he expects to be fit to take his place against Portsmouth as Roeder juggles a depleted squad.
His gamble to rest Kieron Dyer completely and use skipper Scott Parker and £10million striker Obafemi Martins only as substitutes against the Spaniards was justified by the win.
All three are likely to return for a game his side dare not fail to win as they hover just above the relegation zone despite good away draws at Manchester City and Arsenal in their last two Premiership outings.
Roeder said: “It is vital on Sunday. We know the importance of it, the importance of getting three points and starting to move up the table.
“It is very mystifying that we have had these very good results in the UEFA Cup and the Carling Cup, and we have not been able to get the same results in the Premiership, where at times our performances have deserved more points.
“But nevertheless, we have not achieved the points we want and you can only go to the next game and win that, and that is very much our intention for Sunday.”
