Portsmouth Want LuaLua

POMPEY IN FOR LUALUA

LuaLua is expected to return to England on Monday as his country are on the verge of being eliminated from the competition, and Portsmouth are desperate for another striker as they only have Teddy Sheringham and Aiyegbeni Yakubu (who are fit).

Harry Redknapp is hoping to land Congo skipper at the South Coast club who is looking for regular first-team football - something he is not getting at St James' Park.

With Welsh striker Craig Bellamy's recent absence from the Newcastle squad, Lua Lua has been given limited first-team opportunities this season but is well down the pecking order having started just three games.

ITV football reported that Sir Bobby Robson believes that LuaLua has not being playing regularly because he feels the Magpies forward just isn't good enough and he questions the player's decision to go to the African Cup of Nations.

Robson could well send LuaLua out on loan to Fratton Park until the end of the season and give Pompey the option to sign him permanently in the summer.

Robson said: "It's a poor thing for Lua Lua to say that the reason he didn't do well for his country was because he wasn't very sharp. If he thought he wasn't ready to go to play international football, why did he go to the African Nations?

"The fact is that he hasn't played very much because I like to play my best players in Shola (Ameobi), Shearer and Dyer. I don't mind him saying he's unhappy with not playing. We'll wait and see who comes in for him."

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