NEWCASTLE United's new striking hot-shot Lomana LuaLua will lift St James' Park to new levels of excitement.

That's the view of Steve Wignall, the man who gave the talented frontman his first taste of Football League action at the age of 18.

Wignall was the Colchester boss when former gymnast LuaLua, who has joined the Magpies for £2.25m, made his debut as a substitute against Chesterfield in January, 1999.

"He came on and scored, even though we lost the game 3-1," said Wignall, now boss at Conference side Doncaster Rovers.

"Lomana could change a game just like that. He was only a young lad at the time but you just knew he was something special.

"I am not surprised he has got this move to Newcastle. It's what I expected and he will do well.

"He is going to excite the fans at St James' Park. He is so unpredictable, a lot like Paulo Wanchope, but people are going to love him.

"He can do things with the ball that you just watch in amazement. I used to say 'Lomana, you can't do that'. He does somersaults after a goal and that brings crowds to their feet.

"He has that rare talent and although the move might be a bit early for him, he is going to get better and better.

"I think it will be at least a couple of years before people see the best of him. We nurtured him and brought him in slowly and Bobby Robson will probably do the same. He knows he has got a gem there though."

But Wignall admitted life was not so rosy for LuaLua, now 19, when he first took the Zaire-born player to the club from Leyton College in London after he impressed against a Colchester Sixth Form College side.

"We gave him £130 a week and that was a gamble for a club like Colchester to pay someone so young," he said.

"We had disciplinary problems with him because he was always late and didn't show the right attitude.

"It didn't matter that he was so talented, he had to learn to be professional.

"We let him go, but he asked us for another chance and started to listen and learn. Micky Cook, the club's youth team coach, really worked with him and the gamble paid off.

"Lomana is a good lad and loves to play football. Unfortunately I left the club a month after his debut so never saw him fulfil his promise.

"Mick Wadsworth came in after me and also saw how good he was and that's one of the reasons Newcastle have been interested now Mick's up there.

"I am so pleased for him because he has worked hard for everything.

"My son Jack was at the club at the same time and they became close friends. He used to pop round to my house and come for advice even after I left, which was nice.

"If he continues to listen and learn, then he will do really well. He has got the world at his feet and the perfect stage at Newcastle."

LuaLua is in line to make his debut against Charlton today although he may have to start on the bench.

Ironically he could face Mark Kinsella, who was Colchester's previous record sale when he joined Charlton for £150,000 in September, 1996.

Midfielder Kinsella was sold by Wignall and has shown his undoubted quality and gone on to honours with the Irish national team.

"Mark was desperate to get away when I first joined the club but I talked him into staying and he did really well for me," said Wignall, who was in charge from 1995-99 at Colchester.

"He is such a good player and shown that since his move at Charlton. Strong, determined and also a good finisher, he causes a lot of teams problems and Newcastle will have to watch him closely.