4.40pm

The Official Newcastle Utd website has confirmed our earlier story regarding Richard Offiong. The article reads as follows:

NEWCASTLE United confirmed on Friday that 19-year-old striker Richard Offiong has joined Scottish Premier League side Motherwell on loan until the end of May 2003.

Offiong has just returned from a two month loan spell at Nationwide Division Three side Darlington where he played nine matches scoring four goals.

Motherwell are second from bottom of the SPL after their 1 – 0 defeat at Kilmarnock on Wednesday and face Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.

Richard, who attended St Cuthberts School in Newcastle, enjoyed a very successful first season with the Academy in 2000/01 scoring 30 goals as United reached the Final of the Under 17 League Play Offs. Last season he hit 14 goals for the Under 19s and also played for United’s Reserves against Recreativo de Huelva in November 2001 in front of a 20,000 crowd.

In September 2001 he signed a professional contract with United and in January 2002 agreed a new deal which tied him to the Club until the end of the 2004/05 season.

On Tyneside this season he has scored 12 goals for the Under 19s (in 13 matches) and one goal in five appearances for the Reserves.

In October 2002 he made his first England Under 20 appearance when coming on as a second half substitute in Germany on 23 October 2002 and followed that up with a second appearance from the bench against Italy in November. Previously he had appeared once for both the England Under 17s and Under 19s.

Offiong is also in the England U20 squad for their friendly match with Germany to be held at Reading FC on Thursday 6th February 2003.

11.30am

EXCLUSIVE!!!

We understand that Tony Vaughan will sign this afternoon, along with a young striker from Newcastle called Richard Offiong.

The only thing we know about Offiong is that he recently spent a loan spell with Darlington but didn't impress them. The following is taken from a Darlington website:

On loan England U-20 striker, Richard Offiong, has returned to Newcastle after a less than impressive spell at Feethams. The pacy forward proved to be frustrating at times but does have incredible pace, unfortunately he did not seemed interested in using it very much.

Darlington manager Mick Tait has sent loan Newcastle striker, Richard Offiong, back up the A1 after finally losing patience with him.

The 20 year arrived at Feethams nearly two months ago and initially made a good impression. He scored two great goals in the FA Cup second round game against Stevenage Borough plus another brace in the away game at Carlisle. But other than the goals he has never sparkled.Offiong has fantastic pace and when he feels like it he can outstrip a defence with ease. But that is his problem, when he feels like it. All you can put it down to is his in-experience, but he rarely ran for a ball which wasn't sent straight to him. Plus he just never really seemed interested in playing for Darlington. "Richard's second month expired on Tuesday and we have decided not to renew it," said Tait. "It's been a good experience for Richard and I'm sure he'll go on to do very well.He's a great young lad and it's been nice having him with us. It's all been a bit different for him but I think he's done well."He's only young and still has a lot to learn but I can see him doing well for himself."

Malcolm MacDonald told listeners of the Three Legends on Century Radio that Offiong did not want to come to Darlington but had to be talked into it by Bobby Robson. Well it showed.

The Quakers had the option to have him for a third a final month but Offiong has returned to Newcastle and is currently training with them. In our Uncovered poll 69% of you said that he should not stay for another month.

Ironically Offiong has been selected for the England U-20 squad which is to play Germany at Reading on Thursday.

We also understand that the club will again be running free buses to the Clyde cup tie, although this has still to be confirmed.

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