Newcastle United’s return to the EPL after their one, Championship-winning, season in the Football League will not signal a return to the club’s previous big-spending ways, boss Chris Hughton re-iterated this week.

The Magpies flew to the Football League Championship last season thanks to their ability to keep many of the better players, and the better-paid players, of the squad that took them down.

But Hughton told BBC Radio 5 Live that the club are on a bargain hunt prior to the start of the new EPL season, which they start with a Monday night trip to Manchester United on August 16^th, and that they will be looking for “value-for-money players.”

And this was borne out by this week’s capture of former Everton starlet Dan Gosling on a four-year deal and a free transfer.

 

Gosling was allowed to slip through the Goodison Park net after Everton failed to offer the out-of-contract 20-year-old a new written contract by the middle of May.

Under the Bosman ruling, Newcastle had to pay neither a transfer fee nor compensation to Everton for the England under-21 midfielder.

Gosling has attracted considerable attention since breaking into Everton’s first-team as a teenager, notably for an extra-time FA Cup winning goal against arch-rivals Liverpool two seasons ago.

A delighted Hughton said: “He’s the right age and the profile that he has is what makes it such an appealing capture for us.

“He’s young but has Premier League experience and he’s someone who can continue to develop his game, so he won’t be phased by what’s ahead of him.

“We see him as a high-energy player who can play from box-to-box.”

An equally delighted Gosling said: “It’s a brilliant move for me; I can’t wait to get started.”

Three second-half goals gave the Magpies a positive start to their pre-season campaign, winning 3-0 at League One side Carlisle United.

Leon Best opened the scoring two minutes after half-time and promising youngsters Nile Ranger and Haris Vuckic added two more before the end.

The 17-year-old Slovenian midfielder Vuckic was warmly praised by Hughton after the game. The Newcastle supremo said: “He is a talent. He is a player we think has got a very good future at the club.”

Meanwhile, 21-year-old striker Andy Carroll has been handed the iconic Newcastle number nine shirt for the forthcoming season, and has spoken this week of his “immense” pride at being chosen to don the shirt.

He said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s every young Geordie lad’s dream to be a Newcastle United number nine and I am so lucky to have been given that chance.

“Alan Shearer was my idol as a young lad and who would have thought that I would be following in his footsteps?

“When you look at the fabulous players who have worn the shirt down the years, it sends shivers down your spine.”

Last year’s Football League champions continue this pre-season’s campaign this coming Saturday with a trip to last season’s runaway League One champions Norwich City.