Lua Lua to force Sir bobby's hand

By Akin Odejayi
November 4 2003

Newcastle striker Lomana LuaLua is facing a fresh club-versus-country dilema as he attempts to play his way into Sir Bobby Robson's plans.

Newcastle striker Lomana LuaLua is facing a fresh club-versus-country dilema as he attempts to play his way into Sir Bobby Robson's plans.

Despite the recent club V country rows with team mates Nobby Solano and Craig Bellamy, the 22-year-old Democratic Republic of Congo front man will defiantly lay down the gauntlet for Sir Bobby Robson will force the Newcastle manager to make a descision as to whether or not to play him and to prevent him from going to the African Nations Cup in January or to keep him out of the squad and risk losing him for a month.

"Whether I participate in the African Nations Cup next year depends on a number of factors," he said.

"But I just want to play football whenever and wherever I can. I would rather it was with Newcastle, but who knows if that will happen? If I do go to Tunisia then I'd get a great deal of experience playing in one of the biggest competitions in the world - and I would be guaranteed to play every DR Congo game."

"When I was named captain that certainly changed things again," he told The Journal. "I want to go there as my country's captain and prove myself in that role.

"Influential people will be watching; the games will be screened all over the world, and the public will get an opportunity to see what I'm capable of.

"What I need most of all is a run of games, and it is possible that I won't get that run at Newcastle.

"I didn't want to go back home when things were not going well for me at United - but if I'm not playing first-team football then why not?"