Taking No Chances - Souness

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 26/10/2005

Grimsby's Russell Slade admits beating Newcastle would be "something special" but insists winning promotion remains his overriding objective. However, like the rest of us, he will forget he said that tonight and will be looking for a big win.

The injury news is about the same as yesterday with Jean-Paul Kamudimba doubtful and Tom Newey doubtful but both have returned to training today.

Michael Reddy also returned to training today but Gary Croft is definitely out of the game.

Good news is that Russell Slade has signed former loanee, Luton striker Calvin Andrew, on a further loan period today. He will be able to play against Newcastle tonight as he is not cup tied.

Graeme Souness is also not taking chances and is expected to field a very strong side. He will however be without Michael Owen, with doubts also about Alan Shearer.

"We have to show the utmost respect to Grimsby. The history of cup competitions is littered with small teams beating big teams. "Grimsby will really fancy themselves against us and we will have to be up for the challenge.

"We only have to look at the previous round against Tottenham to see what they are capable of. They are doing well in their league, and they will cause us problems."

On Shearer Souness said; "For the last couple of weeks Alan Shearer has been feeling his hernia and it's a situation where no-one knows how long it will last for," Souness told official website www.nufc.co.uk.

"He could get through to the end of the season without needing an operation, or it could get that painful he would need the operation next week."

"We're hoping we can get him through to November, because some surgeons can get them back in different periods of time, so that is something we are on top of."

The Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia at Newcastle also told the Official site; said; "It will be a hard game, and it doesn't matter that they are a few leagues below us. They are a few leagues below Tottenham as well, but that didn't matter in the last round.

"I don't know much about Grimsby, apart from seeing a few of their goals on Sky Sports. "I know it is a small ground, and it will be different to what we are used to in the Premiership stadiums."

"But that doesn't matter, the pitch is the same and it is still 11 playing 11. We will treat the game in the same as we would a Premiership game."

"This is a big competition for us, and we know we can get into Europe through it if we win so we are treating this cup as very important."

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