Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes insists speculation linking him with the Newcastle job before Kevin Keegan's arrival is now dead and buried.

"It's all in the past now. It was always speculation. I took a step back and tried to keep my distance and got criticised for that," said Hughes. "But I always said I was happy at Blackburn and that's still the case so it's not something I worry about.

"I certainly don't feel like I'm going up there with anything to prove to anyone. We just see it as chance to boost our European ambitions.

"We have to view Newcastle as a winnable game. But it's a big challenge going up there."