Opta claim Robert is one of the most creative players in Europe. This makes happy reading, enjoy...

ROBERT WINGING IN TO TYNESIDE by Tim Wheal

NEWCASTLE UNITED'S capture of Paris Saint Germain star Laurent Robert brings one of Europe's most creative players to St James' Park. Opta's stats emphasise the potentially massive impact he could have on the Premiership. Robert was one of the stars of PSG's Champions League campaign last season. The French side were runners-up in the first group stage to ultimate champions Bayern Munich, with Robert claiming strikes in the convincing victories over Rosenborg and Helsingborgs.

The French international netted his third goal of the competition in a vital tie for Luis Fernandez's side at home to AC Milan with a well-executed free kick, only to see Leonardo grab a late equaliser for the away side at the death and severely dent PSG's hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Despite often operating out wide, Robert managed 24 shots at goal - more than any of his team-mates in the 2000-01 Champions League. While Newcastle will welcome his propensity to chance his arm, Robert's goal-creating skills will have the likes of Alan Shearer and Carl Cort watering at the prospect of playing alongside the Frenchman.

Robert's total of six assists was bettered by just one player in the competition and that was Real Madrid's Luis Figo, who set up seven strikes for colleagues but played nearly 400 more minutes than the 26-year-old star.

And in terms of supplying accurate crosses, only Figo and Ian Harte of Leeds found their intended target more often than Robert, who connected with 32 of his centres.

With Robert on the left flank and Nolberto Solano operating down the right, Newcastle potentially have a pair of suppliers to rival Ryan Giggs and David Beckham at Manchester United.

Solano was credited with 10 assists in last season's Premiership - second only to Beckham - and the Peruvian star picked out a fellow Magpie with 110 crosses, which was the highest tally recorded by a single player last term.

All this was achieved largely without the aerial prowess of Shearer, Cort and Duncan Ferguson last season. With the creative expertise of Robert and Solano on the flanks, if the injury-maligned Newcastle strikeforce can put together a decent run of matches in the upcoming campaign they will surely lap up such quality service.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

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gan on son

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001