No Nobby hasn't been drink driving again!! Read on:

NEWCASTLE UNITED are on the trail of yet another South American star, but Martin Hidalgo's arrival could hasten the departure of another of their exotic contingent.

Whether this is Diego Gavilan or Nolberto Solano is open to conjecture, however, as Hidalgo is a right-sided versatile player.

Hidalgo is travelling to Newcastle for a trial after the Sporting Cristal player came to the attention of Bobby Robson through his extensive scouting network.

The Peruvian international already has experience of playing in Europe, having spent two seasons with Las Palmas, from 1995-98.

Hidalgo was at Sporting Cristal before moving to La Liga, then rejoining the Peruvian side in 2000.

Hidalgo has joined on a week's trial, but the Newcastle hierarchy have been disappointed with the performance of Gavilan, who looks likely to be loaned out to a European side next year, whilst the future of Solano, with interest from numerous sides, has been talked about.

Reports from Peru continue to claim that Solano has had an offer from an Italian or Spanish club, which has led to speculation of his departure.

Another option is that Hidalgo is seen as the successor to Warren Barton, who has had a disappointing year despite being made captain in the absence of Rob Lee and Alan Shearer.

The 24-year-old Hidalgo has forced his way into the Peruvian national set-up and like Solano can play as a winger or wing back.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

Answers

So we are considering unloading Solano because of his Peruvian commitments and are therefore considering signing one of his teammates???? Either that or we hope to get rid of Gavilan and get this fella in as backup for Nobby's absences: effectively we will have cover for the games Nobby misses for goal-keeping practice but not for the major absences for internationals when they will both be missing.

wtf are they even talking to him? What happened to "No more cheap foreigners. British or top class only." Nobby is the only Peruvian anyone has ever heard of and Zunigga hardly helped Coventry's cause, did he? Despair. Thick and cloying.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

Similarly amazed! Unless they have got him on an 'Acuna contract' which I don't agree with in the first place this is a waste of time.

Get the money out and start signing some decent Brit players who we can idolise!

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

If we spend the summer signing several unknown South Americans we may as well cut through all the unecessary intervening cr@p and just elect to play in the Nationwide next season - let's just give Man City a reprieve and get on with preparing a team for a promotion push.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

I remember feeling the same when we signed Nolberto. Nolberto? Nolberto? what the hell??? one oddity, maybe even two, but after that it starts to get silly. Clarky, what can i say?

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001