TOON STILL TRACKING HELDER by Alex Livie

DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA defender Helder Cristovao has revealed that Newcastle United are interested in bringing him back to St James` Park. Helder had a loan spell on Tyneside the season before last, but returned to the Riazor after the two clubs failed to agree on a fee.

Magpies boss Bobby Robson is an admirer of the Portuguese defender`s powerful style of play, and it would seem that he has been monitoring the player`s progress throughout the season.

Helder, who has been linked with a summer move to Benfica, confirmed that Robson is thinking over a rival bid.

"The interest of Newcastle already exists," Helder declared. "But, at this moment in time, nothing has been defined."

Robson is acutely aware that his back-line needs strengthening, despite the arrival of Andy O`Brien and the return to fitness of Nikos Dabizas, and it seems that Helder is still high on his list of summer priorities.

Despite seeming to favour a move, Helder admitted that he will continue to honour the remaining year of his contract until someone tells him otherwise.

"I must fulfil my contract with Depor," he said. "But, in football, things can happen very quickly."

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001

Answers

he's looked really good in the games i've seen him play here, apart from the game where he stood still as an alaves player walked the ball past him.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001

Surely, if Helder leave Depo, they will be short of a good quality international CB. I think it is our duty to help them out of this difficulty. I suppose a straight swap would be out of the question? Besides, I doubt if Mrs Rik would let him move to Spain.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001

Helder is top class, please........please can we sign him this summer?

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001

We couldn't afford the £3 million that they wanted for him last season. It's shocking that we couldn't afford a player who realy wants to play for us and who is a top notch defender, perhaps it'll happen , He would be a popular signing after all of his Pro Newcastle comments.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

Not totally convinced myself - injury prone and he's 30. However, he is a cool defender and could be a better role model for O'Brien, Hughes and the Caldwells than Dabz.
At £2mm he could be reasonable short-term acqisition.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

Aye but if we get Elliot for free, Helder for £3 million, then we'll have £27 million for a striker and a left winger.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

Swap for Farcelino - he's still highly rated in Spain - how I don't know.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

...not according to this morning's Journal Josh. They reckon his problems at the Toon have been well publicised in Spain, and that his stock there is at a very low ebb.

The reality is we're going to get very little back for this idiot, and several more million of the Club's assets will need to be written off.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

From icN:

United have continuously checked on Helder since his loan spell finished at the end of the 2000 season.

The Portuguese international has been back in the Deportivo la Coruna side but ominously he was missing again at the end of the season.

And it's his constant injury problems which have made United reluctant to pay out any big money for the Angolan-born defender.

I dont want another injury prone player even if he likes and Newcastle and really wants to play here.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001