Luque Makes An Appearance

Last updated : 07 March 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

From displaying his skills in the massive stadiums of Madrid and Barcelona ... to cold windy Monday evenings with an attendance of 400 ... and how he hates it. But he DID play the first-half in the 0-0 draw with Bolton this week.

Reserve team coach Lee Clark said he was satisfied with both the result and the performance., but not a word about £9.5m striker Luque, who linked up with on-trial Whitley Bay 19-year-old Lee Kerr.

Clark: "I am quite pleased because it was against an experienced Bolton side. We fielded a young team ourselves and did OK.

"Lee Kerr did OK and will be disappointed not to get on the scoresheet, while Andy Carroll also had a good chance in the second half.

"Matty Pattison did well in the middle but, overall, I was pleased with the performance."

The Chronicle: "The Spaniard was withdrawn at half-time and, although he failed to get on the scoresheet, he did combine well with the Jarrow teenager.

"Alan O'Brien whipped in a cross and Kerr's diving header flashed wide.

"Then, just before the half-hour mark, Luque flicked a good ball through to Kerr, but the Bay striker, roared on by the rest of his Whitley team-mates and Hillheads boss Ian Chandler in the stands, sent his effort just wide.

"Three minutes later Luque won the ball from ex-Liverpool and Coventry man David Thompson to release Kerr again, but he sent his shot inches wide.

"Luque was replaced by 18-year-old Carroll at the break and 15 minutes in he could have broken the deadlock, only for his header from Chris Shanks' cross go wide of the target."

NEWCASTLE: Forster, Shanks, Cave, Gate, Morris, Francis, Troisi (LuaLua 67), Pattison, Kerr, Luque (Carroll 46), O'Brien.

BOLTON: Walker, Sinclair, Augustyn, Martin, Michalik, Thompson, Teimourian, Tal, Fojut (Basham 44), Harsanyi, Vaz Te.