Source: Northern_Echo
Third Newcastle star has visa problems
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S bizarre summer took a fresh twist last night when it emerged a third member of their squad was denied a visa to travel on the pre-season tour of the United States.[LNB] Summer signing Yohan Cabaye will now head to Holland with the development squad along with Joey Barton and Nile Ranger, who were also refused access to the States.[LNB] Barton and Ranger's previous criminal convictions prevented them from going on the three-match tour, while it is believed a minor issue that has now been resolved stopped the Frenchman from travelling.[LNB] It is a significant blow to manager Alan Pardew, who had been looking for the £4.8m buy from Lille to use the trip to America to speed up the settling in process.[LNB] Cabaye was a notable absentee when the rest of the travelling party headed across the Atlantic on Sunday, ahead of an opening match against Sporting Kansas City tomorrow.[LNB] And rather than rush the midfielder over on his own, Pardew has taken the decision to send him to Holland with Barton and Ranger to help keep on top of his pre-season fitness levels.[LNB] Barton's application was rejected because of his spell behind bars for assault and Ranger's copybook was blotted for a conviction for his part in a street robbery as a 15-year-old.[LNB] They will be joined in Holland by Wayne Routledge and James Perch, while Mike Williamson has not gone to America because of personal reasons.[LNB] After making early progress in the transfer front this summer with the acquisitions of Cabaye, Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Mehdi Abeid, things have slowed down on Tyneside in recent weeks.[LNB] The wait goes on for a second striker to arrive to make up for the loss of Andy Carroll in January, with a deal for Paris St Germain's Mevlut Erdinc and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge seemingly well off.[LNB] Pardew is keen to ensure there are further additions on the transfer front, although it looks increasingly unlikely he will receive a hefty chunk of the £35m Carroll fee to spend on transfer fees.[LNB] Pardew's players train today ahead of tomorrow's game at the Livestrong Sporting Park. Newcastle then face Orlando City on Sunday and Columbus Crew next Tuesday.[LNB] Brighton have confirmed they have agreed a deal with Newcastle that will see Kazenga LuaLua sign permanently for them after an initial loan spell.[LNB] LuaLua has agreed to join the Seagulls for a further six-months after two previous loan stints and now it seems he will be staying there on a full-time basis.[LNB]
