Gooch Misses Out On European Glory

Last updated : 12 February 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

The United States international regards Belgium as his second home after he spent three years playing for Standard Liege. Be he played for Standard in the competition against Celta Vigo in the first round, so will play no part in the Magpie's quest for European glory.

Onyewu: "It would have been good to play in European competition but unfortunately I played for Standard at the start of the season. Zulte-Waregem are obviously one of the teams I came across in Belgium.

"I found life in Belgium very good. I think it is a good league and I played alongside some good players. Standard are one of the top teams in Belgium and I had a good two-and-half seasons there and I left them in third place.

"I enjoyed it and worked with some good coaching staff. Unfortunately, at this point in my career I had to depart Standard Liege."

"I left the States when I was 19 to join Metz. After that I moved to Belgium, which is not a big transition. But I felt that to benefit my career I had to opt for European football as opposed to the MLS.

"It is where you want to be as a professional athlete in this game. Playing in the World Cup for my country has also helped me - it was fantastic.

"The experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - hopefully for me it will be more than a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"It was by far the best experience of my career so far and I hope it can help me play at the Premiership level with Newcastle."