Hughton eyes further additions

New Wigan boss Owen Coyle has appointed four new members to his backroom staff.

Sandy Stewart has been confirmed as assistant manager, having worked closely with Coyle at Bolton, Burnley and St Johnstone, while former Latics keeper Phil Hughes becomes the club's new goalkeeping coach.

Andy Mitchell joins as head physiotherapist and James Barrow, whose father Graham remains in the post of first team coach, takes up a role as strength and conditioning coach.

"It was so important that we brought in the right personnel to take up key roles at the club and I'm delighted to bring in people who have proven themselves at the highest level and who I trust completely," Coyle said of the quartet, who all worked together at Bolton.

"I know they'll come here and do everything in their power to bring success to Wigan Athletic, and I can't ask any more than that."

Dennis Lawrence will remain as development squad coach but Graeme Jones, Richard Evans, Iniaki Bergara and Kevin Reeves have left the club.

The Uruguay international is still on leave after international duty at the Confederations Cup but while he was in Brazil he made a number of references to disliking the way he has been treated by the British media while admitting it would be difficult to turn down a move to Real Madrid.

However, there have been no offers for the 26-year-old and no word from him or his representatives on whether he expressly wishes to leave Anfield.

Suarez, who has three years left on a contract signed last summer, is scheduled to return for the Australia and Thailand legs of the Reds' pre-season tour and the club do not want the speculation to provide further distraction throughout the transfer window.

But Molby believes if Suarez is as unhappy with aspects of British life as he claims to be then the Reds would be wise to sell him on.

"The last thing you want is an unhappy player and Liverpool know that," Molby told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"They've been busy in the market (manager Brendan Rodgers has made four signings already) and it appears they're almost readying themselves for life without Suarez.

"I think he's made it pretty clear that he would like to try something new, including playing at a club that's in the Champions League.

"If that's how he feels, the club has to do the business."

There has also been speculation about goalkeeper Jose Reina, also still on holiday after the Confederations Cup, and a return to Barcelona.

The arrival of Sunderland's Simon Mignolet has raised further questions about the Spain international's future and Molby expects both Reina and Suarez will leave before the end of August.

"I'd be surprised if both of them were here on September 1," he added.

"Could you imagine Mignolet wanting to come to Liverpool and not play?

"He has his own ambitions and one of them is to be part of a very exciting Belgian national team.

"In the first three or four years Pepe (Reina) was here he was as good as the club's ever had and as good as there was anywhere in the world.

"He hasn't quite been the same in the last couple of years but I think he's a great goalkeeper.

"Possibly the time has come for him to move on and if there's an opportunity for him back in Spain, so be it."

While speculation continues about Liverpool's senior players, captain Steven Gerrard believes their rising stars have to shake off their promising youngsters tag and prove they are good enough to compete for a regular first-team place.

Seven academy graduates were given opportunities last season and Gerrard thinks it is time some start to take more responsibility.

"You only get described as a young lad for a certain amount of time and then it's time to become a man and perform on a consistent basis," he told LFC TV.

"There is great talent at the club at a young age; the manager has been trying to get a young group of players together that can perform well for him.

"It's a big season for a lot of players - you look at (Raheem) Sterling and (Jordan) Henderson.

"Of course it's a big season for every player we've got, but I think the supporters will be looking for the young lads to step up now, try to push people out of the way and become regulars in the team.

"I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what happens with those young players."

And Hughton again insisted goalkeeper John Ruddy was not for sale.

Redmond, 19, on Thursday became the Norfolk club's third signing of the summer when he moved from Birmingham, following the permanent deal for on-loan Lazio defender Javier Garrido and a record £8.5million transfer of Holland forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Norwich are expected to continue to be busy in the market, as a £4.8m bid for Sweden attacking midfielder Ola Toivonen is said to have been lodged with PSV Eindhoven, while Lokomotiv Moscow's £6m-rated Senegal striker Dame N'Doye and Blackburn left-back Martin Olsson are two other reported targets for Hughton.

England goalkeeper Ruddy, meanwhile, is very much on Chelsea's radar as new manager Jose Mourinho seeks cover for Petr Cech. The Blues are understood to be ready to improve on their £5m offer which was rejected. Captain Grant Holt has also been linked with a move away from Carrow Road.

Hughton, however, stressed he was looking to further bolster his squad ahead of their training camp in Austria and a three-match pre-season tour to the United States.

"We have got no particular number on how many more will come in. We are no different to anybody else. We won't bring in unless we feel it benefits us," Hughton told a press conference.

"The target is always to bring in players as soon as possible to integrate them into the squad.

"If you look across the Premier League some have done good business, others have hardly done any. It really is about using the period of time you are allowed in the best way. That means we are allowed until the end of August, but I want to stress again it is about adding to what we have and we are happy with what we have here already. If we can do it earlier, then great."

Hughton, though, went on the defensive when asked if bids had been lodged for any of his key men.

The Norwich boss said: "No, and probably if there was I wouldn't say it.

"The best way is to conduct business behind closed doors.

"You see we have been able to present Ricky and Nathan as done deals this week and that is fact.

"Around those sort of transfers there is only a small fraction of what you hear that is actually fact. By far the vast majority is very much speculation.

"If there has been interest in our players then that is a plus as far as I am concerned because we must be doing something right.

"I think if there is speculation regarding players we want to bring in it indicates we are attempting to do some work - some of those names will come into the public domain, but the majority will not."

Norwich have seen some departures this summer, with several fringe players moving on, such as striker James Vaughan who yesterday signed a permanent deal with Huddersfield following a loan spell at the Championship club.

Hughton, though, was disappointed not to have been able to retain the services of highly rated goalkeeper Jed Steer, who rejected a new deal to move on to Aston Villa where he will play under former Canaries manager Paul Lambert.

Norwich are, however, entitled to compensation for the 20-year-old, who came through the club's academy.

"I was sad to see him go," said Hughton, who will now look to bring in some goalkeeping cover. "We did offer him a contract, but we all know that is the nature of the game.

"You can do your best that you can, but ultimately it is down to the players."