Sparrowhawk returns Italian newspapers report that Udinese are set to sign Newcastle midfielder Diego Gavilan, with the 24 year-old Paraguayan apparently in Italy at the weekend to undergo a medical. Gavilan was previously on loan to Brazilians Sporting Club Internacional of Porto Alegre, with whom he spent virtually all of 2003. Still list the player as being on our books, Gavilan having signed a four year deal when he joined us for £2m in January 2000, but we're unsure precisely when that contract ends or whether he's actually been released by Newcastle. "Sparrowhawk" unfortunately joins the ever-increasing list of overseas players of whom great things were expected when they joined us, but ended up sneaking out of a side door almost un-noticed. That's after having trousered a hefty slice of our cash of course.... For the record, Gavilan made two league starts and five sub appearances, scoring once - at home to Coventry in April 2000. He was last spotted in the first team in September 2000 when he was an 89th minute replacement for Carl Cort as we beat Leyton Orient 2-0 at SJP in the League Cup. All told, his toon career amounted to 218 minutes and he failed to complete a full ninety minutes in the first team. Reserve watchers were treated (if that's the right word) to nine appearances in season 2002/03 as he came back from injury and he was on target twice during our miserable return posting to the International stadium at Gateshead. Almost his final act in a Newcastle shirt was to rifle home a late consolation goal against Blackburn reserves as we lost 2-1 on a miserable afternoon almost exactly one year ago
it was a bit too wet and cold for him last night i think id love to see him in the team though, defo needs some games under his belt. but theres questions about his commitment and work rate.
