Viana no understudy

By Matthew Jones
July 9 2002

Sir Bobby Robson has dismissed suggestions that Hugo Viana has been signed as an understudy to Laurent Robert. Robson broke the British record transfer fee for a teenager when he landed the Portuguese starlet for £8.5million last month.

Sir Bobby Robson has dismissed suggestions that Hugo Viana has been signed as an understudy to Laurent Robert.

Robson broke the British record transfer fee for a teenager when he landed the Portuguese starlet for £8.5 million last month.

But with Hugo often playing on the left side of midfield for his previous club, Sporting Lisbon, many fans have wondered how The Magpies could accommodate both him and current £10 million man Laurent Robert in the side.

But Bobby Robson insists that Viana's future on Tyneside lies in central midfield. He has said that Hugo is a totally different type of player and that there is no comparison. He also said that Viana is a central midfielder, not a winger.

"I feel we needed another left-footed option and I'm delighted we've got him," added Robson. "He's a boy with immense talent and he can be a frightening player. He's a player for the future."