THE unlikely talent scout who brought Brazilian star Juninho to the North-East is hedging his bets over who will win the big match tomorrow.

Pundit Ian Wilson, who is a council tax collector for Darlington Borough Council, wrote to Bryan Robson and Boro chairman Steve Gibson in 1994 suggesting they sign up Juninho.

The chairman replied saying his suggestions had been noted and 18 months later Juninho was a £4.75m signing for Bryan Robson from Sao Paolo.

Mr Gibson later acknowledged that Mr Wilson's letter had influenced the transfer.

Now Mr Wilson will be in a unique position - one of the only people in England who will be happy whatever the result.

He said: "I first saw Brazil play in 1956 when they came across to play England. There was a certain something about them that was different and I have been hooked on them ever since.

"When Robson came to Middlesbrough I was watching a lot of Brazilian football on Eurosport.

"I first saw Juninho play when he was just 19. I wrote to Bryan Robson about him saying if we had him on our team we would fill the stadium every match. He always put 110 per cent in and that really showed in his game."

And Mr Wilson's admiration for Brazilian football and Juninho is such that he has refused to say who he will be cheering for in tomorrow's World Cup match.

He said: "I really don't know who will win. Brazil will be apprehensive about playing England and that may make them play better than ever which will be a problem for England.

"I am English but I love Brazilian football so I will be happy whatever the result,"

Juninho is not the only Brazilian star Mr Wilson has tried to bring to the region.

He also wrote to Middlesbrough in 1992 when Lennie Lawrence was manager, urging them to try to buy Dunga.

He received no reply and two years later Dunga lifted the World Cup as Brazilian skipper.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.