Times Online

Newcastle's famous No 9 shirt to remain
vacant for rest of the season

5 February 2010, by George Caulkin

It is one of the most iconic shirts in British football, graced by the likes of Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn and Malcolm Macdonald, but Chris Hughton has confirmed that the famous No 9 will remain vacant at Newcastle United this season, the first time it will have done so since numbering was introduced.

In many ways, it typifies the manager’s approach. In the aftermath of relegation — when Obafemi Martins, the previous No 9, left for Wolfsburg — Hughton has striven to construct a collective spirit at St James’ Park.

Unlike in the past, there have been no vanity signings and he has shielded his squad from attention. That philosophy has lifted Newcastle to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship — they play host to Cardiff City tonight — and in spite of the club signing Leon Best, the Ireland striker, from Coventry City during the transfer window, it will not be altered. Best will wear No 20. Shola Ameobi, Andy Carroll, Nile Ranger and Peter Lovenkrands are the Newcastle manager’s other forwards.

“It’s something I’ve done deliberately,” Hughton said. “We have a lot of strikers here and I’m quite sure that every single one of them would have wanted to wear the No 9 shirt. As soon as I came to this club I knew what it meant and it’s both my decision and a combination of a few things.

“It can be a heavy number to carry, a burden, and wearing it is an achievement which I want somebody to grow into.

“I want somebody to earn the right to be Newcastle’s No 9. I don’t want to suggest that the strikers here aren’t worthy of it because each of them has a real strong value.

“I don’t anticipate years going by without one, but I know what the number nine is and I don’t want it to be an issue. The only issue I want is the normal stuff of the team performing well or not performing well, winning games or not winning games, and that’s very much team based.”

Hughton said that Steven Taylor, the defender who is suffering from knee ligament damage, would not return for another two months.