Newcastle defender Habib Beye has returned from injury in the nick of time, according to beleaguered caretaker manager Chris Hughton.The 31-year-old Senegal international made his return from a long-term ankle problem as a first-half substitute in Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Arsenal.

Newcastle have received a ‘huge boost’ with the news that Habib Beye is back in full training.

Habib Beye has revealed that he is targeting the Arsenal game on 21st March for a possible comeback.

Defender Habib Beye has confirmed that he wants to return to the Newcastle first-team before the end of the current season.

Senegal international Habib Beye hopes to return to first-team action before the end of the season.

Joe Kinnear has confirmed Newcastle have made a bid for Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia and made an enquiry over West Ham defender Lucas Neill.The Magpies are chasing the 30-year-old Hammers captain Neill as they attempt to cover for the loss of Habib Beye to an ankle injury.

Senegal international Habib Beye will definitely miss Newcastle United’s Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday after being stretchered off the pitch during the 2-1 defeat at Wigan Athletic.

Check out our player ratings and Opta Stats from Newcastle’s clash with West Brom. What do you think of our ratings? Let us know using the feedback form at the foot of the page. Click here for the match report. Newcastle 2 West Brom 1 Shay Given  7.5 Scott Carson 6.5 Habib Beye 6.5 Gianni Zuiverloon 5 Steven Taylor 6 Ryan Donk 5 Fabricio Coloccini 6 Jonas…

Newcastle’s Habib Beye is delighted he will be able to face Sunderland but has refused to condemn Rob Styles for his red-card error.

Joe Kinnear clenched his fist and punched the air with joy yesterday afternoon but the morning had provided Newcastle United’s interim manager with cause to curse. Although he could not contain his joy on learning that the Football Association had rescinded the red card shown to Habib Beye for a perceived foul on Robinho during Monday night’s 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City, the news on Michael Owen’s groin injury had been rather less cheery.”Michael has no chance of being fit for the game at Sunderland on Saturday or West Brom at home on Tuesday,” said Kinnear, who is pondering whether to name the returning Joey Barton in his starting line-up at the Stadium of Light tomorrow. “It’s a big loss because Michael is a big player and this is a massive game.”After writing a letter of apology to the FA for his recent foul-mouthed rant at journalists, Kinnear is now on his best behaviour in front of the media. Yesterday’s press conference duly passed without a single swearword slipping from the mouth of a man who is convinced Barton’s conduct will prove similarly exemplary.His new calm, measured demeanour rather suits the former Wimbledon manager, who seems to have acquired a hitherto unsuspected gravitas. Reacting to Beye’s reprieve, he sympathised with Rob Styles, the referee who had failed to spot that Beye made initial contact with the ball in tackling Robinho from behind. “It’s a victory for common sense,” he said. “I did not lose my head with the referee after the game, though. It was a difficult decision and he was in a horrible position to call it. If you freeze the frame, he’s got two players blocking his view and he’s craning his neck to see.”Beye seems certain to be at right-back tomorrow but Kinnear is yet to decide whether Barton will start his first senior game in a turbulent six months which have embraced a spell in prison, serving time for assault, and a six-game FA ban.The publicly contrite and now teetotal midfielder played 80 minutes in a reserve game at Middlesbrough on Tuesday and Kinnear said: “I have the utmost confidence in Joey Barton. My only concern is football-related and I want to wait another day and see just what effect the reserve game has had on him. We are not trying to hide Joey’s past but he has to focus on his future. The way back for him is to do well on the field, starting at Sunderland.”Roy Keane trusts that Barton will seize his latest chance to prove he is a reformed character. “He seems to have got good backing, particularly when Kevin Keegan was at Newcastle,” said Sunderland’s manager. “Hopefully he will take his chance now and the penny will drop.”Keane’s former Ireland team-mate Shay Given, Newcastle’s goalkeeper, believes his own team are underdogs tomorrow. “Sunderland are probably the favourites – they have a stronger squad than us.”Premier LeagueNewcastle UnitedSunderlandguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds