AARON Hughes has insisted that he has nothing to fear from the arrival of Jean-Alain Boumsong and Celestine Babayaro - because in seven years at Newcastle, he has seen it all before.

The Northern Ireland international is one of the players most at risk from United's double defensive reinforcement, despite starring in Monday night's shut-out against West Brom.

Hughes was overlooked for Graeme Souness' first five games in charge of the Magpies and, with the Newcastle boss expected to step up his chase of Sylvain Distin next week, the 25-year-old could find himself fourth-choice centre-half at the end of the month.

Steven Taylor has also leapfrogged him in the full-back pecking order, but Hughes is refusing to get too worried about the challenges that lie ahead.

The versatile defender had already seen the likes of Jonathan Woodgate, Marcelino and Didier Domi come and go and, while he desperately hopes both Boumsong and Babayaro buck the trend, he will not be fretting over his future just because they have travelled to Tyneside.

"In a way the new arrivals do make you more determined to go out and prove what you can do," said Hughes, who can boast 267 appearances in black and white. "You've got to do your best to try to stay in the gaffer's plans.

"But I've been here a lot of years now and I've seen a lot of people come and go.

"It's nothing new for me in that respect, but there's no use worrying about it.

"What can you do? You've just got to give your best in training and do your best in the games. Whatever will be will be.

"Hopefully your best is enough to get you into the team for the next week. If not, there's nothing you can do about it."

Boumsong and Babayaro are both expected to make their United debuts in Sunday's FA Cup tie at non-league Yeading.

Their arrival could not have come at a better time as, with Andy O'Brien, Stephen Carr, Robbie Elliott and Ronny Johnsen all having been ruled out in recent weeks, the Magpies' defence has been down to the bare bones.

"With injuries and suspensions, we've watched a decent squad disappear down to next to nothing," admitted Hughes.

"We've had to bring some of the young lads in. That's been great for them - Steven Taylor's the main one to have benefited from it - but the squad needed some more depth.

"We needed more players to cover certain injuries that have cropped up and now we've got more of a squad together.

"Some people say that it's very important for a back four to stick together, while others say that it doesn't matter because the players that are coming in should know what they're doing.

"I think, in certain games, we've maybe suffered from having to change things, but in other games I think we've been a bit unlucky to give goals away."

Meanwhile, Newcastle are ready to use Olivier Bernard as the make-weight in a deal to bring Fulham striker Luis Boa Morte to St James' Park.

Souness has been watching Boa Morte for a number of weeks and, while Chris Coleman insists the Portuguese international will not be leaving Craven Cottage, his United counterpart is ready to test his resolve.

Fulham's first-choice left back, Jerome Bonnissel, is out for the rest of the season and the London side are having to rely on 20-year-old rookie Adam Green or midfielder Carlos Bocanegra.

Signing Bernard could be an attractive proposition and, with the Frenchman still refusing to sign a new deal with Newcastle, Souness has reluctantly agreed to let him leave.

* Alan Shearer is confident he will be fit to return for Newcastle's next Premiership outing.

The United skipper was due to return from a thigh injury in last weekend's 2-1 win over Birmingham but found his spell on sidelines extended after picking up a calf problem in training.

This weekend's FA Cup tie is likely to come too soon, but Shearer should be fit for the home game with his former club Southampton on January 15.

"Things are going fine now," said Shearer.

"But it is killing me not being able to play, and the fact that I have not been able to return is not for the want of trying.

"In 18 years as a player I never had a niggly muscle injury and yet I have had a couple in the last few months."

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