Could he be the answer to the present deficiency in the aggressive ball-winning category? I never seemed to quite fit that Bassedas would fill that role - he looks too slight. But the report in the Journal about Acuna shows him to be exactly the sort of player we need scurrying around in midfield, so that Speed (and to an extent Dyer) can free themselves up a bit.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

Answers

away from home you need a streetwise scrapper

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

I suspect that's precisely what BR has in mind in taking this guy on trial.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

Newcastle United's Chilean trialist Clarence Acuna has denied he is ready to sacrifice his international career in order to join the Magpies.

St James' Park boss Bobby Robson has another week to make his mind up on whether he wants to strike a permanent deal for the #1m-rated star. But Acuna insists talk of him abandoning Chile's World Cup qualifying campaign to commit himself full-time to United is wrong.

His homeland was in uproar at the claim but Acuna insisted: "I never said that and the suggestion is wrong." Acuna added that the confusion has arisen because Chile would not want him until next year anyway following his four month ban for a positive drugs test.

"Getting back in the national team is not my goal right now because I haven't played for four months but in the long term I want to play for my country again," he said.

"I said that I would like to stay in Newcastle and rebuild my career. But if I start playing club football again then it is only natural I would want to be eventually involved with the national team."

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000