Newcastle to sign Onyewu on loan

[kennethlindheim]

Looks a solid player, although a fair few defenders have done so for us before turning into utter shite.

Like Boumsong to begin with...

[kennethlindheim]

Oguchi Onyewu will not be welcomed back by Standard Liege if he does not earn a permanent contract with Newcastle United as the Belgian club want to sell him.

United manager Glenn Roeder has admitted he took the American international on loan until the end of the season as a way to offer the player an extended trial on Tyneside, as they were unsure whether he could adapt to English football. But after two months and five games for the Magpies, it is far from certain Onyewu will be given a permanent deal, with Roeder warning last week the defender has still not done enough to prove he is good enough to play in the Premiership.

Newcastle's manager insisted the 6ft 3in player had eight games left to show he can succeed in English football, eight games Liege will have a keen interest in.

The Journal understands United, who are aiming to sign two new centre-backs in the summer, will keep either Titus Bramble or Onyewu, with Roeder yet to make a final decision. Bramble had been set for a new contract, but talks were called off after he was heavily criticised by Roeder in the aftermath of the Uefa Cup defeat by Alkmaar.

Sources in Belgium, though, also suggest that Liege only agreed to allow Onyewu to move on loan to Newcastle in an effort to attract interest from other clubs.

Liege have privately admitted they suspect Newcastle will not sign the player permanently in the summer, but they are still confident they will be able to find a buyer.

A source in Belgium said: "Standard Liege do not want Oguchi to come back and he does not want to come back to Belgium. They want to sell him and, even though they know Newcastle might not sign him, they agreed to let him go on loan to attract interest from other clubs.

"Whatever happens with Newcastle, Liege will sell him in the summer. He has been linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Marseille in the past and there are other clubs as well."

The Belgians are committed to selling their centre-back to raise funds and believe there is still interest from major European clubs, even if the player has not made a huge impact in England so far.

icNewcastle - Onyewu left in limbo

He is still trying to fit in and with the other 3 defenders changing constantly it's difficult for him to settle in. I would definetly keep him ahead of Bramble.

[kennethlindheim]

Gooch Onyewu has insisted he is ready to give it everything he's got in a bid to win a full-time contract with Newcastle United next season.

The US international - on loan from Standard Liege until the end of the campaign - is more than aware he has just seven games left to show what he can do after today's game against Manchester City.

The centre-back was on duty with the States during the international break and helped them to a 3-1 win over Ecuador in Tampa, but is now focused on winning a squad number for next term with the Magpies.

Onyewu is unlikely to return to Belgium at the end of the season, meaning he faces an uncertain future if United don't offer him a deal.

But with the season heading into the final straight, Gooch is simply focusing on giving it his all and making an impression with boss Glenn Roeder.

He told the Chronicle: "I'd definitely like to be here next year.

"I've settled in well with my team-mates and I am quite happy.

"This is a situation and place I'd like to be in come next season.

"Newcastle are a great club and it's a great city. I think I can learn a lot from the coach Glenn Roeder.

"I have to think optimistically and think that things will work out.

"It depends if the coach picks me, of course, because more players are coming back from injury.

"That means he has a lot more options for his line-up.

"I just have to continue trying to impress him and hopefully it will be enough."

Onyewu has plenty of competition at centre-back, with Peter Ramage now fit again and Steven Taylor, Titus Bramble and Craig Moore all battling for a place in the heart of defence.

However, with nobody so far consistent enough to call the shirt their own due to injuries and lack of steady form, the defence is still crying out for a black-and-white rock to finally rid United of their leaky defensive tag.

The American added: "It's always good for the players to have competition and for the team in general because you cannot think like an individual, you have to compete for a place.

"In any situation you work and think for the team, no matter if you are on the field our not.

"We have a number of options in different positions so you have to keep working hard."

Since Onyewu arrived from Belgium, he has been hindered by a series of minor hitches.

This has been largely due to the fact he was cup-tied in Europe, meaning he was in and out of the side, and because he arrived in the middle of the year just before the January transfer window.

He says: "It's difficult to come in mid-season and in a sense pick up the pace of everyone else straight away.

"But I think that coming in at the stage I did helps build character.

"Next year would be much better if I got a pre-season training schedule in with the rest of the team."

icNewcastle - 7 games to win United deal