John Carver Travels To Witness Yet Another Newcastle United Defeat

John Carver is not having much luck at the moment - and he witnessed yet another Newcastle United defeat as he made a 320-mile round trip to watch the Under-21s succumb 4-0 away to Derby County. The Magpies first-team boss did believe that midfielder Siem de Jong completing 90 minutes was "very important" from a "psychological view", however, as the Dutchman looked to regain match fitness following his goal-scoring return to the side against Swansea City. Perhaps worryingly, though, Carver appeared reluctant to state that he would throw De Jong straight into the starting line-up for Newcastle's trip to fellow Premier League strugglers - but also one of the division's form sides - Leicester City on Saturday. With the Magpies having lost for a seventh-straight match at the weekend - a Premier League club record - they now sit just five points clear of the relegation zone, and their position became even more perilous with Hull City's 1-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday night too. But Carver is adamant it was "important" he saw the players he believe are competing for a first-team place in the flesh - and he included De Jong, Facundo Ferreyra, Adam Armstrong and Oliver Kemen in that list. Speaking to the club's official TV channel, the Newcastle head coach said:

€œFrom a psychological view it was very important he (Dee Jong) got 90 minutes today. He didn€™t have a great deal to do on the ball but he got through the 90 minutes without any problem. He has now got three or four days to recover and hopefully he will be involved at Leicester at the weekend. €œThis is his third game now and I think he got 72 minutes against Aston Villa. There has been an improvement in every game and as we saw on Saturday, he is a goalscorer and we need a goalscorer at the moment. So, great the fact he€™s actually got through 90 minutes and he€™ll be raring to go. €œWhat I won€™t do is throw him in at the deep end, I€™ll have a conversation with him on the bus, see how he feels in the next 48 hours because that is important. Then see where we go for the weekend.€

Less than 14 days after Derby U-21s beat Newcastle 2-0 at St James' Park, the Rams once again put the Magpies to the sword - with goals from Kwame Thomas, Mason Bennett, Shaquille McDonald and Ivan Calero. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.