Newcastle are still without a goal after four Premiership games but skipper Alan Shearer reckons his partnership with new signing Michael Owen will soon change all that - starting against Fulham on Saturday. And Shearer, traditionally Newcastle's leading scorer, won't mind if Owen takes away that particular mantle this season.
"I've no doubt he can finish top scorer and I sincerely hope he does. The manager and chairman have brought him in to score goals. I'd be more than happy if Michael was to take that away from me," said Shearer who, after the disappointment of picking up just one point thus far, added: "Our season starts now."
In addition to the £19m capture of Owen, Newcastle have added £9.5m Spaniard Albert Luque to their squad, and the captain says: "We have a point - not enough. Whatever has happened in the past month has gone. Our season starts as of Saturday against Fulham."
Talking of Fulham, and manager Chris Coleman is delighted that, after a summer of speculation, his own skipper Luis Boa Morte has finally pledged his long-term future to the club by signing a new, five-year deal...with no get-out clause! "If someone comes in and offers ridiculous money for him then sure, every player has his price," said Coleman. "But there's nothing in the contract."
Boa Morte was a Newcastle target, and Coleman added: "He's played 200 games in five years which has worked out at roughly 40 games a season. We're not in the habit of selling our best players and we wanted to plan for the future. He's a big part of that. He can be the captain for the next five years if he shows the same consistency and level of performance he has done already."
Staying with Fulham, and Coleman has completed the signing of French central defender Philippe Christanval on a free transfer. Having been released by Marseille, the 27-year-old had fruitless trial spells with Arsenal and Celtic but has now landed a three-year deal with the London club. Coleman said: "I'm glad we've been able to add a new face to give us strength in depth I felt we've been lacking."
Christanval, who has six France caps to his name and who was part of Monaco's 2000 championship winning side, said: "I am happy to join Fulham and to play in the Premier League where each match is played at an exciting high tempo. There is a nice atmosphere around the training ground and I am looking forward to working with all of the players and being a big part of Fulham's future campaigns."
Finally, Everton will throw their new signing Nuno Valente in at the deep end by giving him a debut against Portsmouth after just one day's training with his new colleagues. Everton assistant boss said of the £1.9m signing: "We have not seen him here other than for his medical, so we are looking forward to finally welcoming him. Friday will be the first time he will see us and his new teammates and he is likely to be thrust in on Saturday."
Irvine added: "Everyone knows we have been looking for left-backs through the summer. Gary Naysmith has had numerous set-backs with his ankle injury and then having re-signed Alessandro Pistone, he then suffers a serious knee injury and will be out long-term. So it was fortunate for us that a player of Nuno's calibre was available at very short notice."
