...............but not wor Clarrie. Plus othe goss, according to ic Toon:

Meanwhile, United are considering entering the summer scramble for Real Zaragoza midfielder Roberto Acuna.

The Paraguayan international skipper - nicknamed The Bull - has been recommended to United by his compatriot at St James's Park, Diego Gavilan.

But Robson already knew all about Acuna, who made a big impact at Zaragoza during the Magpie manager's last season in Spain with Barcelona.

Newcastle have been alerted to the fact that the 28-year-old - rated one of the best attacking midfielders in South America - is set to leave the Primera Liga at the end of the season.

Acuna recently questioned Zaragoza coach Luis Costa's tactics and is far from happy at the Aragon club's lowly league position.

Robson had Acuna watched in Zaragoza's 1-1 draw against Champions League hopefuls Valencia last weekend.

But Newcastle face competition for him from Premiership rivals Manchester United and Tottenham, as well as Italian giants Fiorentina and AC Milan.

Indeed, Fiorentina are understood to have already lodged a £6 million bid for Acuna, who joined Zaragoza from Argentinian club Independiente for £3 million in 1997.

He was actually born in Argentina but chose to represent the land of his parents and, as a mainstay of the Paraguay national side, he would have no problems obtaining a work permit.

But Acuna - considered South America's premier dead-ball specialist - is another player who is committed to regular trips back across the Atlantic to aid his country's World Cup qualifying campaign.

And with Paraguay well placed to reach next year's World Cup finals, it is unlikely that Robson - already rocked by Nol Solano's decision to rejoin Peru's qualifying bid - would be able to convince Acuna, like Gavilan, to put club before country.

Newcastle are also set to offer big money flop Marcelino to Celta Vigo in a swap for their Serbian international centreback Goran Djorovic.

Djorovic, 29, is currently injured but had already lost his first-team place to Argentinian star Eduardo Berizzo.

Ironically, Berizzo was bought by Celta after they refused to pay more than £2.9 million for Marcelino before Christmas.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Answers

So, another South American with dodgy passport credentials, who's likely to be increasing his airmiles, plus another crock. Par for the bliddy course then.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

the thing is he is being recommended by Gavilan????? Hello aren't there more qualified scouts at NUFC?

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

No

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001