MISFIT defender Marcelino last night insisted he wants to win over the Newcastle United fans who booed his substitute appearance in Robert Lee's testimonial at St. James' Park.

The Spanish centre-back, a massive flop in the two years since his £5m-plus arrival from Real Mallorca, looks to have clinched his place in the squad for Sunday's season opener at Chelsea after acquitting himself well in the final 20 minutes of the 1-0 defeat by Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Marcelino incurred the wrath of the home supporters when he came on to replace Aaron Hughes, whose own goal was enough to separate the sides.

United are still desperate to sell Marcelino, who has managed only 19 senior appearances out of a potential 95 games and is picking up £15,000 a week, but there have been no takers for the Ruud Gullit recruit. Marcelino is equally keen to quit Tyneside, but following his assertion last week that he is willing to stay and fight for his place, he declared: "The fans have seen what I can do against a good Spanish side and hopefully, little by little, I can change their opinion of me.''

Manager Bobby Robson has been at loggerheads with Marcelino, but the injury-prone 29-year-old stressed: "After a difficult summer, it's great to feel part of the team again. I was pleased to get a few minutes on the pitch against Bilbao. I'm back and I aim to stay fit.

"I knew it would not be easy when I came on because the supporters are influenced by what they read.

"But they are not getting the full story. I've had some awful treatment in my time on Tyneside, and I can do nothing about that.

"But I feel that every time I have played, I have done well, and the Bilbao game was no different.''

Meanwhile, Robson embarked on a mystery continental spying mission on Sunday.

His interest almost certainly centred on midfield targets following Nolberto Solano's controversial decision to link up with Peru and rule himself out of the Chelsea game.

Robson's midfield misery has been compounded by the hamstring injury which meant Gary Speed was forced to sit out the encounter with Bilbao.

Carl Cort was not risked on Saturday, but is nearing fitness, while fellow striker Shola Ameobi is undergoing treatment for a groin injury which forced him to withdraw from the England Under-21 squad for tonight's game with Holland.

New £10m winger Laurent Robert has pulled out of the France party for tomorrow's match against Denmark in Nantes to have treatment on a slight foot problem.

The former Paris St. Germain star made a favourable impression on his United debut against Bilbao, and afterwards promised: "The best is yet to come.''

As revealed in Northern Echo Sport on Saturday, £2m-rated Iranian midfielder Hamed Kavianpour has joined Newcastle on trial. The 21-year-old, who plays for Persepolis, is also prompting interest from Glasgow Rangers

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