Football: Howey repays Gullit vote of confidence

Newcastle United 3 Wimbledon 1

IT WAS a good day for the new kid in Toon on Saturday. It was not a bad one for the old boy either.

Duncan Ferguson may have made a striking impression, with his match-winning contribution and his wholehearted commitment to the black and white cause, but Steve Howey's assured performance even had the two-goal star of the show waxing lyrically.

"The big fellow Howey was outstanding," Ferguson said. "I couldn't believe it was his first game of the season. He was immense."

Certainly, Ruud Gullit was immensely pleased with the one player in his starting line-up who cost nothing - as pleased as he was with his pounds 7m acquisition. "I'm extremely happy with Duncan," the Newcastle manager said, "but also with Steve Howey. It's like having a pounds 5m signing.

"We have not had a commanding centre-half. That's why I'm so pleased with Steve. I made him captain for the day to show how much confidence I have in him and how much I believe in him."

Howey will be relieved to receive such a firm vote of confidence. Since arriving at St James' Park as an apprentice centre-forward in 1986 he has been obliged to prove his worth to six different managers: Willie McFaul, Jim Smith, Ossie Ardiles, Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and now Gullit.

On Saturday, his first appearance since the FA Cup final in May, he looked like the quality central defender Keegan likened to Alan Hansen and Terry Venables rewarded with international recognition. He looked nothing like a player whose career has been hamstrung by injuries since the eve of Euro 96 - most recently by calf and Achilles heel problems.

At 27, St James' longest servant will be hoping his days on the treatment table are behind him. It remains to be seen, however, whether Howey, and indeed Ferguson, can effect a lasting cure for Gullit's bad side.

After five Premiership games without a victory, Newcastle were good enough to beat a Wimbledon team assembled for just pounds 300,000 more than the pounds 7m downpayment they have made to Everton for Ferguson. But at times, especially in the first half, they played like the "relegation team" Gullit last week bemoaned he had inherited from Dalglish.

Admittedly, they were without the injured Alan Shearer, who may be fit to partner Ferguson at Middlesbrough on Sunday, and David Batty, who is more likely to be playing for Leeds by then. But Gullit clearly has some team building to do before Newcastle are a Premiership force once again.

On Saturday it was just as well that Nolberto Solano - "Nobby" to Gullit and everyone else on Tyneside - unleashed an equalising right-foot bolt from the blue so soon after Marcus Gayle had stirred restiveness among the natives, courtesy of a stray Gary Speed pass.

It was just as well for Newcastle, too, that Ferguson's self-confessed mis-kick hit the target on the hour - and that the pigeon-fancying Magpie rose to the occasion with his last- minute header.

With a black and white No 20 shirt on his back, Ferguson managed to do what he did at Selhurst Park last month wearing the No 9 of Everton. Every Don may have its day but Saturday was one of a groundhog nature for Joe Kinnear and his players, thanks to Newcastle's new signing. For the second- time in seven weeks, they were slam Dunc-ed to defeat by the big man.

Goals: Gayle (33) 0-1; Solano (37) 1-1; Ferguson (60) 2-1; Ferguson (90) 3-1.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Given (Harper, h-t); Charvet, Hughes, Howey, Barton; Gillespie, Hamann, Speed, Glass (Solano, 27); Andersson, Ferguson. Substitutes not used: Dalglish, Ketsbaia, Beharall.

Wimbledon (4-4-2): Sullivan; Cunningham, Blackwell, Perry, Thatcher; Ainsworth (Roberts, 77), Earle, Euell, Kennedy (Ardley, h-t); Gayle, Leaburn (Ekoku, h-t). Substitutes not used: Kimble, Heald (gk).

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).

Booking: Newcastle: Hamann.

Man of the match: Howey.

Attendance: 36,623.