Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is relaxed about throwing Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor in against champions Chelsea. The pair are expected to take over from the suspended Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson for the Blues' Premier League visit to St James' Park on Sunday despite barely having kicked a ball between them this season.
He said: "They are both very, very good players. One thing you learn the more years you are in football is you have to adapt. "You end up losing players and you have to adapt to it.
"Sometimes that can strengthen you, sometimes it doesn't, but what you have to do is get on with it, be very, very positive about what you do have and the qualities you have, and hopefully that will show on Sunday.
"It is not just us, most clubs losing their two central defenders would be stretched - we have seen that, of course, even at the club the magnitude of Chelsea.
"What we do have available in that position at the moment is Steven Taylor and Sol Campbell.
"Both Steven and Sol have been fit for a while - what they are lacking is getting up to speed as regards matches."
Former England international Campbell, 36, has vast experience, but has endured a frustrating first few months on Tyneside with niggling injuries limiting his involvement.
Hughton said: "He would have hoped to have played - and I am quite sure he would have played - more football, but these things happen.
"He is a vastly experienced player who has played against the top teams, and that experience has been good around the place.
"He is a very good individual, a very good football individual and he has made a nice impact around the place."
