De Jong eager to make Newcastle impact

Newcastle United travel to Hull City on Saturday boosted by the news that attacking midfielder Siem de Jong is close to making a first-team return for the Magpies, who on Monday confirmed that John Carver has been appointed head coach until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old was signed by the Magpies at the start of July last year on a six-year deal but has been out of action since the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at the end of August after damaging a thigh muscle in training.

However, the former Ajax captain returned to training this month and is stepping up his recovery at a warm-weather training camp in Dubai this week.

"It's a big difference to me just being able to train with the group," De Jong toldwww.nufc.co.uk. "It feels good. I still have to get more training sessions and some minutes with the Under-21s in the coming weeks to get up to full strength - especially if I want to play long parts of a game.

"I know what this club means to this city and its people"
John Carver

"I need some conditioning work but also games, so it's probably going to be a couple of games with the Under-21s - but also just training sessions, 11 against 11 and those kinds of things.

"It's been a long recovery. It is difficult when you've just come here and you're out for such a long time, so I'm glad to be back training."

De Jong impressed in the two Barclays Premier League matches he did play in, against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, and although he is determined to get back into the first team, he says he does not want to rush his comeback.

"I can understand that people expect quite a lot from you when you arrive as a new player and then you get injured for four months, so of course I want to be back in the team as soon as possible - but I have to be a little bit sensible about it," he added. "It's always nice to have a little pressure. In games where you have pressure, I think you can do a little extra.

"I've been important in the past in important games so I hope to be here too - but first I just want to get back into the game and start playing again."

The Magpies travel to the KC Stadium aiming to secure their first BPL win since 28 December when they claimed a 3-2 victory over Everton. They will be led by Carver, who has been in interim charge since the departure of Alan Pardew at the start of the year.

"This is a proud day for me," Carver told the Newcastle United website. "I have worked with, and learnt from, the best manager that this football club has had in Sir Bobby Robson. I know what this club means to this city and its people. I believe in my players and the staff I have around me.

"I am confident that we can deliver exciting successful football and look forward with relish to my role as head coach of this great football club."

"With the fantastic crowd behind us there is no reason why we can't get our season back on track with victory"
Curtis Davies

Hull are also desperate for victory after slipping into the relegation zone with a run of two wins from their last 15 league matches.

With the Tigers not in FA Cup action over the weekend, the first-team squad travelled to Portugal last week for a warm-weather training camp and defender Curtis Davies believes the trip is exactly what the players need ahead of the Newcastle visit.

"The trip gives us the opportunity to bond as a team and increase team spirit and morale which is hugely important in this league," Davies told www.hullcitytigers.com. "It is what we need at this moment in time, and it allows us to reflect on the season so far and look at what we need to improve on going into the second half of the campaign.

"We have spent a lot of time together as a team, especially with the busy fixture list over the festive period, but a change of scenery will do us all good and hopefully it will be of great benefit to the whole squad."

Steve Bruce's side may have lost their last two fixtures but they will take confidence from recent victories over Sunderland and Everton, while back in September, Hull took a 2-0 lead against Newcastle at St James’ Park before having to settle for a 2-2 draw.

"Newcastle are a quality side and like us they will come down here wanting to kick-start their season too so it will be a tough afternoon," added Davies. "We demonstrated that we were more than a match for them up at their place earlier on in the season and we were unfortunate only to come away with a draw.

"With the fantastic crowd behind us there is no reason why we can't get our season back on track with victory.

"It is that tight at the bottom that a couple of good results can propel you up the table, so we have no reason to panic. If we continue to stick together and work hard for one another I firmly believe that things will turn around."