Chris Hughton has talked more this morning about just how happy he is have strengthened his defense with the loan signing yesterday of Khizanishvili, 27, of Blackburn and Georgia.

Khizanishvili – great addition the the squad

This looks a very good piece of  business by the manager, as we mentioned yesterday, and if Zurab shines on Tyneside through Januuary,  we wouldn’t be surprised if Newcastle try to sign the player full time.

The club should look in January at improving the squad lonng term, and not wait for the summer, when players will be that much more expensive, if we make the Premier League again.

The former Dundee and Glasgow Rangers defender is comfortable with English conditions, and he is also able to play as a full-back.

His signing means Newcastle now have specialist cover at centre-back, where only Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor have been specialists in that position up until now, and young 19 year-old Hungarian Tamas Kadar is coming through the ranks, and will get some games this year, no doubt about that.

Both Kadar and Khizanishvili can also play full-back so we do finally have a little cover there too.

Hughton talked today about Newcastle’s new signing:

“He is someone we have been looking at for a while and we had spoken to Blackburn about him a while ago.”

“The time was right and everything fell into place. We’re delighted to get him and I’m sure he will become a very valuable member of the squad here.”

“We have been pushing for some time and we have finally got somebody to help give us cover.”

“Since the transfer deadline closed, we have been hopeful of bringing in fresh faces – and this gives us exactly that.”

Zurab joined Blackburn in a £500K move during the summer of 2006, after spending a successful season on loan at Ewood Park.

But since big Sam arrived at Blackburn,  he has found himself surplus to requirements this season, and has made just one senior appearance, in a 3-1 Carling Cup second-round win at Gillingham.

We expect the Georgian to start the game at Peterborough next Wednesday night in the Carling Cup.

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