He's only 5'8"!!! Is he going to become the third central defender? Or is he just cover? Are we now changing our default formation to 3-5-2? Answers to these questions and a whole lot more, after a quick word form our sponsors!!

deal back on United agenda by Simon Rushworth TENERIFE plan to push through the sale of Argentinian Pablo Paz to Newcastle in the next 48 hours after it emerged a deal which looked dead last week was suddenly back on.

The Spanish second division leaders are ready to lower their asking price for the out-of-favour international and contacted United yesterday keen to reopen negotiations.

Last week Bobby Robson said 'economic reasons' lay behind the Magpies' decision not to sign Paz immediately after his trial last month.

The experienced centre-half impressed during his 10-day stay on Tyneside but the combination of uncertainty regarding the future of transfer fees and Tenerife's B#2.5m asking price persuaded Newcastle to cool their interest.

However, the islanders know United will have to strengthen the heart of their defence sooner rather than later in the wake of chairman Freddie Shepherd's outburst against Marcelino and the continued lack of cover for Frenchman Alain Goma and youngsters Aaron Hughes and Steve Caldwell.

Shepherd has called in the Spanish international's agent in a bid to kickstart the former Mallorca player's United career but it would be a major surprise if he is still around next month. Spain's transfer window reopens in December and Newcastle are working feverishly behind the scenes in a bid to find a buyer for Marcelino.

Robson told the player he was free to find another club in the summer and the situation has not changed although, unlike his chairman, the United manager refuses to publicly criticise the injury-prone centre-half.

Instead the former England boss is attempting to claw back as much of the B#6m paid to Mallorca as possible and Robson knows that criticism of the player, however fair, will not help his cause.

Marcelino is currently out with a groin strain but a scan showed up nothing more than a slight strain.

A source close to the Newcastle manager admitted: "If Alan Shearer, Rob Lee or Warren Barton had picked up that kind of injury they would have played through it without a problem. They wouldn't even have mentioned it."

Tenerife are unlikely to be able to afford Marcelino's wages until they can guarantee promotion back to the Primera Liga. If the Paz deal does go though then, it will not involve the Spaniard.

Paz has not figured in Tenerife's plans so far this season and is desperate to join fellow countrymen Christian Bassedas, Daniel Cordone and Fernando Bonvin at St James's Park.

An official revealed: "It may be that Pablo travels to England again this week, but the club is going to try and push through the transfer quickly."

The centre-half, known for his uncompromising approach, became surplus to requirements following a fall-out with the club hierarchy.

Paz, relatively short for a defender at a little over 5ft 8in, was a team-mate of Bassedas four years ago as Argentina picked up a silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

Two years later, he won a place in the Argentina World Cup squad, featuring in the group victory over Croatia before reverting to the bench for the dramatic second-round victory over England.

Meanwhile Newcastle have dismissed reported interest from Leeds in Kieron Dyer as "pure speculation."

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2000