Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton believes they will benefit from Fabricio Coloccini's Argentina World Cup axing.

Hughton reckons the £10m defender will prove his worth for Newcastle in one of the best leagues in Europe.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I think the fact that Colo had such a good season wasn't just down to us plying our trade in a lower division.

"It's more a case of Colo getting used to being in Newcastle and used to the pace of the English game.

"He's now used to the directness of the English game.

"He's come to terms with that, and I suppose when you look back he was thrown in at the deep end in the Premier League in a team that was struggling.

"He found it difficult, but we're all looking forward to him playing again in the Premier League and being a better player all round."