"I think most know that it is a club decision to put him on the transfer list. His contract talks have broken down between himself, his representatives and the club but that is something we hope can be resolved.

"He is a player that we would certainly like to keep here at the football club. I think there are always going to be things that test us and there will always be other issues, but the important thing is that Steven is a player we would like to see at this football club. He is a very good player and certainly I hope an agreement can be made.”

On the back of the 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa, United's task tonight was simple: to progress to the Third Round without injury and without extra-time and penalties. 

And in that respect it was a job well done by those players selected, Chris Hughton opting to field a completely different starting XI to the one on Sunday.

Fielding eight of the side who began our last game in this competition (the defeat at Peterborough), this time round the blend of youth and experience made a much better fist of things against a League Two side, rather than that Posh Championship outfit.

Hughton's three most experienced starters grabbed the goals in an entertaining contest at the tiny Crown Ground. However, they almost made life difficult for themselves, conceding late goals at the end of both halves and Tim Krul was required to make some excellent saves to ensure that an unwelcome and irritating "giant-killing" was avoided, and the current feelgood factor was preserved.

It was encouraging that none of our first choice players were needed to secure what was ultimately a comfortable victory but you got the feeling that Stanley had an off night and at 3-1 going into added time, it felt like the score flattered us a bit.
 

An energetic and enthusiastic home side gave the visitors, dressed all in blue, some uncomfortable moments with James Ryan testing Tim Krul while Shola Ameobi blazed over twice and had a shot blocked. Nile Ranger had a header cleared off the line and almost found the net from Kazenga LuaLua's cross as United pressed but the opening goal was well worth waiting for.

Ryan Taylor's thumping 30-yarder curled into the top corner and gave United the lead as the interval approached but a miscue from Ranger on the edge of our box allowed Ray Putterill to curl in a fine equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Ameobi restored our lead with a close range finish just three minutes after the interval and the tie looked all over when Peter Lovenkrands hooked in a third midway through the second half.

LuaLua then hit the inside of the post at the end of the 90 minutes as we looked for a fourth, but in added time former Stanley reduced the arrears. However, United held out for the remaining two minutes and thankfully avoided the tie going into extra time.

Aside from progressing in the competition, the night was useful in giving some match practice to the players selected, with the three scorers all posting reminders to the manager of their prowess. Tim Krul's energetic display will also have kept up the pressure on first-choice Steve Harper, with the fact this game was beamed out live putting the Dutchman at the forefront of some fan's minds.

As for the members of Hughton's so-called "development squad", there was a first appearance since April for defender Tamas Kadar, who returned from injury to partner James Tavernier in central defence. The unfamiliar pairing didn't look overly comfortable at set pieces however and had the home side had a more physical striker then they could have been stretched more than they were.

Elsewhere on the field there were outings for Nile Ranger, Haris Vuckic and Ryan Donaldson - all of whom were on the verges of the first team last season in The Championship. All now though face the prospect of returning to the reserves, as they drop the down the SJP pecking order - even though their age renders the issue of inclusion in the club's 25 man squad an irrelevance.

There were perhaps overshadowed though by the lively Kazenga LuaLua, who was afforded the opportunity to play in his own position on the left flank (unlike Ranger and Vuckic, who were shoehorned into midfield roles). Lua came more to the fore in the second half and showed glimpses of the talent that he undoubtedly has. 

Whether he'd gained any advantage from playing much of last season in the Football League while on loan to Brighton is questionable, but there seems little doubt that like Fraser Forster, those other young internationals will get more benefit from going out on loan, rather than continuing to prepare for kickabouts at the training ground.  

And it's not beyond the realms of possibility that one or more of the players could end up back at Stanley, with the League Two club confirming that a post-match approach for a loan deal was under consideration by the SJP hierarchy.

Certainly Ranger had an interesting evening here, with the combination of a small ground, some uncompromising defending and unsympathetic officialdom leaving him dumped on his backside on a number of occasions. It'll have done him no harm - as will seeing the size of the dressing rooms. 

Before that comes though, nights like this are a handy reminder of how the other half lives - and plays. Looking at the home side, two of those lads were able to tell a story of rejection from the Magpies - both Charlie Barnett and Sean Hessey having been on trial at NUFC once upon a time. 

It's a moot point whether our hopefuls have realised what they have in their hands - and how easy it is to be distracted by off-field temptations.   

Niall MacKenzie

(Thanks to Steve Brennan for pics)