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Nicky's Free-Kicks The Butt Of Toon Jokes
Written by Newcastle Utd
Midfield ace reveals lads have shared laugh over his "trademark" set-pieces
By Craig Hope
NICKY Butt has revealed that his free-kicks have become the subject of a standing joke in the Newcastle United dressing room.
The midfield anchorman is more renowned for his tough tackling than deadball artistry having been afforded few opportunities to take aim given the set-piece prowess of team-mates such as Alan Shearer, Nobby Solano, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
But having stepped out of the shadows this season, the 33-year-old has twice come within a lick of paint of netting goal-of-the-month contenders.
First it was at Arsenal in August when his delicate clip over the Gunners wall rattled the crossbar before this month's curler versus Aston Villa smashed against a post.
And when asked by nufcTV if he fancied himself as United's new free-kick specialist, both Butt and the watching Michael Owen burst into laughter.
"It's a bit of a standing joke in the changing room about my free-kicks," he revealed.
"I've only taken two and come closer than the rest of the lads have all season!
"So if we get another one we'll see what happens."