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Defender on for Newcastle switch
Newcastle United, 12:10, January 26, 2010 ,
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton hopes to complete the signing of Portsmouth centre-half Mike Williamson in time for Wednesday's game.
The player travelled to Tyneside for a medical on Friday and Magpie's boss Chris Hughton is hoping to have his new signing available to face Crystal Palace.
Newcastle are currently missing the suspended Ryan Taylor while Steven Taylor is expected to be out for two months with knee ligament damage meaning the Williamson signing couldn't have come at a better time for the club.
Newcastle tried to sign Williams in the summer but the defender moved to Pompey instead, favouring a move to the Premier League. However he is yet to play for the south coast club and Hughton is delighted to finally get his man.
He told the club website: "He is a big lad and he is the right age. There is still development in him and from what we've been led to believe, he will relish the opportunity to come here."