According to Freaky's mate Neil Farrington in the Beano:

Dyer: I Stay Aug 12 2001

Kieron Dyer has delivered a strong pledge of loyalty to Newcastle United to silence speculation over his future.

The England starlet has been repeatedly linked with a big money move to Leeds, Manchester United or abroad.

But, speaking after being presented with the Sunday Sun Player of the Year Trophy, he revealed that his aim is to get his hands on major silverware with Newcastle this season - and fly the black and white flag at next summer's World Cup.

Dyer is confident of success on both fronts once he makes his long-awaited return from injury early next month.

He said: "My targets are to have an injury-free season, help Newcastle win some silverware and represent the club in the squad to go to the World Cup."

Dyer also revealed he hopes to win himself a permanent place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's first-choice England team . . . as a left winger!

"In the England set-up now, I'd say David Beckham's, Steven Gerrard's and Paul Scholes' positions are taken," he said. "But I'd like to fill the left-sided role.

"I've played there for Newcastle and I'm confident I could make a success of it."

Dyer's words will come as a huge boost to Geordie fans who are bitterly opposed to him being allowed to leave St James's Park at any price.

The 22-year-old sat out yesterday's 1-0 defeat against Athletic Bilbao in Robert Lee's testimonial with a torn calf muscle.

Hmm - apirations (or is it desperations??) of playing on the left? What's wrong with playing in the hole behind the striker??

Meanwhile, Newcastle United are being linked with 23-year-old French defender Sylvain Distel - a former team-mate of Magpie new boy Laurent Robert at Paris St Germain.

The £4 million-rated Distel, who stands 6ft 2in, is happy at centre-back or leftback.

But it is open to debate whether United boss Bobby Robson needs to strengthen in either of those positions and Bolton are also interested in the player.

Distel began his career at Tours, before moving to Guegnon in 1999 and on to PSG last summer. Dunno about another CB or LB. Perhaps we should sign his brother Sacha to enetertain the crowd at half time - and give the girlies something to swoon over.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Answers

Absolute Piffle??

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Just read Farrington's article. The carefully chosen words endorsed to me what I suspect is a tacit agreement between KD and FS that he will commit himself to the Toon for this season. If things are looking promising on the playing front he will consider an extension to his Toon contract, otherwise we will agree to him moving on, either towards the end of the season or at the end of it.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

I believe the player the S/Sun are referring to is Sylian Distain. I saw him playing for PSG on telly a couple of times last season and he looked a canny defender.

Despite BR's apparent comfort with the situation, it seems entirely clear that we still need a commanding centre-half - and will continue to ignore this glaring defficiency at our peril.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Well Mach, I'm not sure about that. Of course it could all simply be a conspiracy, but he does appear to hav said "My targets are to have an injury-free season, help Newcastle win some silverware and represent the club in the squad to go to the World Cup."

At least he's saying the right things. Of course it won't be enough to silence the press sh!t stirrers.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Screach, - your quote fully supports my supposition.
KD is publicly setting out his targets for the coming season. If he is unable to achieve those targets, he will - imo - look to move on, citing unfulfilled ambitions as the principal reason. Obviously, everything is academic until he proves his fitness.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Perhaps, but a lot is down to him. Yes, it is easier to gain international recognition when playing for a succesful team but not imposible. The one problem I see in him doing that is targetting the LW slot. On yesterday's performance, he's going to have a hard job holding down that role at club level and a good club performance would go a long way to securing an international place. Clearly SGE has a lack of talent in that slot, and MacManamanamanamaman is in contention - not to mention possibly your Hargreaves (tho not sure if he has any LW credentials either).

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001