10 Most-Pointless Newcastle Signings In The Premier League Era

8. Zurab Khizanishvili

Newcastle United: 2009 Nationality: Georgian Position: Defender Signed: September 2009 Fee: Loan (from Blackburn Rovers) Appearances (Goals): 7 (0) After being shunted out of Blackburn Rovers' first-team plans by Sam Allardyce in September 2009, Newcastle offered 93-cap Georgian international Zurab Khizanishvili an escape route - and Toon fans are still, to this day, wondering why. Recruited on a three-month loan in order to bolster the Magpies' defence as they aimed to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, Khizanishvili made just seven appearances in all competitions. The versatile defender did not necessarily put a foot wrong for Newcastle, but there seemed no reason to sign him - particularly as he wasn't used very regularly. Someone will have to ask Chris Hughton his thinking behind this one...