Concentrate on the Toon - Robson

By Peter Donnelly
March 22 2003

Sir Bobby Robson has set the record straight with Hugo Viana, after the midfielder claimed he is thinking is going out on loan next season when, speaking to a Porteguese radio station. However, Bobby has told Viana to honour his contract and not think of any move away from St. James' Park.

Viana said that he was 'happy to come to Newcastle last summer, but is unhappy with the amount of starts he has had for Newcastle' and while he stated he doesn't want a permanent away from the Toon he did admit was thinking of going out on loan for a season.

But Robson said on Friday,

"I have had the boy into my office and told him I don't want to hear him talking like that.

He signed a five-year contract here only last summer and while I honestly don't know the deal, it will be a good contract.

I told Hugo he has got to honour that contract - and that if there is any desicion about whether he is going out on loan that desicion will be made by myself in conjuntion with my chairman, and not him and his agent

We have looked after the boy, for instance, when he was out for three months with his dislocated shoulder we let him go to Portugal and sent his wages across to him.

What he has to do is to concentrate on playing for Newcastle United and not be thinking about going out on loan - either now or in the future.

Hugo is a game. A real jewel and he has a great future here at Newcastle."

It is probably understandable that Viana is talking like that because he clearly expected more games and hasn't really been given a chance in his normal position, centre midfield.

However, this is because fine form from the likes of Jermaine Jenas, Keiron Dyer and Gary Speed. While I don't think Viana and Dyer would work I do think Viana alongside Speed or Jenas would. And the one critical thing I would say about him being left out is I think Jenas has been picked over the 20-year-old a bit too much whenever Speed's been injured.