By Tyne-Talk
August 8 2010
When Newcastle United signed Sol Campbell he had just returned from honeymoon with his wife, he was then labelled "fat belly" by fans after photographs showed him looking unfit during pre season training. The former Arsenal defender is not due to play against Manchester United in the 1st game of the season due to lack of fitness, but manager Chris Hughton has argued that Campbell is not fat.
Hughton told Sky Sports;
"He's certainly not fat. He's in very good shape. He's a very big man anyway, but he's certainly not fat. What he isn't at this moment is fit. He's not fit at this moment in time.
He can still cut it of course, with the games he was involved with for Arsenal last season.
On the back of that, we realise where we are in this division, we realise where Arsenal are in this division and somebody who can play a part in their season, we know is going to be good enough for us."
35 Year old Campbell also spoke out, he said;
"I've started late, I'm three weeks behind everyone else. It's all about catch up. You can't really rush the body. So you've got to take your time and step by step.
I can't do anything about it. Getting married and going on honeymoon and stuff like that. Now's the time to knuckle down and in two or three weeks I should be in better shape to play some games.
It's only a week to go until the game so it's a little bit short for me, for sure."
