Hughton stays upbeat ahead of Ashley news

With his team equal on points with leaders Cardiff in the Championship, the Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton could learn today whether he has a long-term future at St James' Park with owner Mike Ashley set to update supporters on his ongoing efforts to sell the club.

Hughton, whose side won 2-0 at Crystal Palace on Saturday to continue their unbeaten start to the season, said: "At this moment we are waiting for a decision to be made on whether the club is sold, or what will happen if the club is not sold. It's not about me putting down a marker for the job, it's about winning games for this club and the players have responded."

The other two sides relegated from the Premier League last season, Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion, are level on points with Newcastle after 2-0 home wins over Doncaster and Ipswich respectively. After watching his side slip to defeat at the Hawthorns, the Ipswich manager Roy Keane said: "I always knew that the job would be difficult but there is no getting away from the fact that it is a massive, massive challenge over the next few months. It is sink or swim for the players."