From Team twaddle (It takes agaes to load dosen't it? and when you get there, it's just a load of twaddle.ewcastle are being linked with a season-long loan swoop for striker Gilles de Bilde, who is nearing the end of a loan spell with Aston Villa.

The Magpies play host to champions-elect Manchester United this weekend, and Robson is desperate to bring in an experienced striker ahead of that game. And Sheffield Wednesday's De Bilde, whom he managed in Holland with PSV Eindhoven, certainly falls into that category. The player is available, unwanted at Hillsborough due to his excessive wages and has failed to impress Aston Villa boss John Gregory in a three-month loan spell. Robson is also considering a second attempt to bring in Wimbledon's John Hartson on loan, to cover for Alan Shearer's three-month absence due to a knee op. The Dons knocked back the last approach, but may sanction a longer deal until the end of the season. De Bilde will return to Hillsborough next week, with the South Yorkshire club keen to offload him from the wage bill as soon as possible.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

Answers

Bobby got a phone call while he was chatting to us, supposedly something to do with a striker he's trying to get. Couldn't find out anymore. Could also have been nothing. Could have been his wife asking what he wanted for dinner. ;-)

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

Well, it was something for dinner, I expect (bearing in mind our opponemts on Sat'dy) he'd ask for anything, as long as there's chips.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

De Bilde's a decent player with good instincts in the penalty area. However, he's not very big, and a bit like AS in that he needs really good service to make a real contribution. I'd be surprised if he worked out in our present situation, but if there really is no one else available he might be worth a shot.

I'd prefer us to take Mark Burchill on loan with an option to purchase him at the end of the season if he made an favourable impression.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2000

According to Aunty:

Aston Villa manager John Gregory is to open talks with Sheffield Wednesday about signing Gilles de Bilde on a permanent basis.

The Belgian striker's loan spell from the First Division club expires after Villa's visit to Chelsea on New Year's Day and a decision will then be made on his future.

Villa remain short of numbers in attack and Gregory said: "We have been without Julian Joachim for a long spell and Darius Vassell has been on and off the treatment table this season.

Money

"We have also lost Luc Nilis completely so we are very light in that area.

"Our proposed South American signing, Juan Pablo Angel, has yet to get the approval of the authorities so until that happens I will not make a decision about Gilles de Bilde.

"Money comes into it of course but I will certainly be talking to Sheffield Wednesday.

"It all depends on whether we get the Angel deal tidied up for the FA Cup game with Newcastle United, but it might allow us some breathing space."

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2000