Newcastle United Football Club

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52193

Rossi gets Magpies chance

24 Oct 2006 - 12:46:54

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Loan striker Giuseppe Rossi will finally make his first start for Newcastle United against Portsmouth on Wednesday.

The Manchester United youngster joined the Magpies in August in a bid to build on his limited Premiership experience, but manager Glenn Roeder has been reluctant to throw him into a struggling team.

Rossi has made just four brief appearances from the bench for Newcastle to date, but Roeder views the Carling Cup clash against Pompey as the ideal occasion for the Italian-American to prove himself.

He told the club's official website: "I am prepared to say that Peppe will start the game. I'm looking forward to seeing him play.

"He trains exceptionally well, he has fitted into the squad in the manner that you would expect from a young player.

"The squad have taken to him, he is a fantastic character and in training he has shown a terrific amount of ability, so I am looking forward to seeing him out there.

"I would have liked to have played him a bit more, but a combination of the way games have been going and some of the results we have had has meant that I haven't been able to include him as much as I'd have liked.

"But Wednesday night is an opportunity for him, and I'm sure he is looking forward to it."