Star set for exit

Hugo Viana has stated that he does not wish to return to Newcastle United at the end of the season.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Uefa Cup clash between Newcastle and his current club Sporting Lisbon, Viana said, ‘Somewhere along the line, I hope Graeme Souness and Freddy Shepherd will talk about my future. I am very happy in Portugal. It's my country and I'm happy with my family. I had two years in England and that was enough. It was not a good time for me, but Newcastle is a great club, with great people inside it and fantastic fans."

We certainly haven’t witnessed the much prophesized talent that resulted in Bobby Robson paying £8.5 million for the then Young European Footballer of the Year.

Glimpses of brilliance have rather disappointingly been coupled with a lack of pace and aggression and general lackluster displays.

A player who the Newcastle fans appeared to have so much time for will now almost certainly leave come June with Sporting Lisbon his most likely suitors.