By Matthew Jones
August 9 2004

Saturday - Boro vs Newcastle (that's if the game actualyl goes ahead). Defender Aaron Hughes looks ahead to the game, and is looking forward to a tough test. Both sides have revamped their squad over the close season and it should be a very good opening game indeed!

24-year-old Hughes said:

"It's all about fine tuning now to make sure we are ready for Middlesbrough.

"Games against local rivals are special and both of us have made some signings so this one will be no different."

There is a little bit of doubt over wether or not the game will actually go ahead, with an an eye-virus spreading through the camp.  Four players have already been affected with conjunctivitis, and with several injury and fitness worries already, Sir Bobby Robson said:

"If we get a bad reaction this weekend involving more players, we will have to see what happens regarding the Middlesborough game."

However, Hughes added: 

"We've had some tough games but we can take a lot of positives from them.

"I think we are all at the stage fitness-wise where we expected to be."

Defender Jonathan Woodgate is also likely to miss the game.  He has not been able to gain the level of fitness he needs.

The Former Leeds defender has been hampered by a thigh injury gained 16 weeks ago, which also saw him miss the Euro 2004 campaign.

Woodgate had been hoping to make his return on Saturday but suffered a set back in training a couple of weeks ago leaving both him and manager Sir Bobby Robson unsure.

Robson said:

"Jonathan is desperate and determined to get back into things.

The trouble has been that he got a bit frightened about the injury when we had to pull him out of things for a couple of days.”