Carver Ready For Tough Start

By Matthew Jones
June 29 2003

Newcastle will have to do it the hard way if they want to mount a serious title challenge. With Leeds United away and Manchester United home being the first two games of the season, it will be tough. John Carver speaks about this... Newcastle United have a few tough games to kickoff the season, but they know that they will have to win these games in order to put up a serious challenge for the title next season.

Manchester United will be coming to St James' Park seven days after Newcastle travel to Elland Road for the opening day clash against Leeds United.

First-team coach John Carver said: "When the fixtures came out and I saw our first two games were at Leeds and at home to Manchester United, I thought we could not have been handed a much tougher start.

"But then I thought back to this time last year when the fixtures came out. I remember then how we looked at the final games of last season and thought we could have a good run-in, but the reality is always different, as we found out.

"So while we have a couple of hard games to start with, it will mean everyone is certainly focused from the start because there is nothing like a big game to concentrate people's minds."

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