Newcastle striker Albert Luque will go from zero to hero if he can score the goals that book his side a place in the UEFA Cup.
Spanish star Luque, 28, endured a season to forget following his move from Deportivo La Coruna last August and looked to be on his way out of St James' Park this summer.
He was sidelined for two months after suffering a hamstring injury in just his second game and, when he was fit, he struggled to recapture the form that had earned him 15 caps for Spain.
PHOTO: AP
But Michael Owen's knee injury during the World Cup, the retirement of Newcastle legend Alan Shearer and reserve striker Shola Ameobi's lack of fitness has left manager Glenn Roeder desperately short of firepower.
So Luque, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Sevilla, has suddenly found himself back in favor on Tyneside and is determined to make the most of his reprieve.
He underlined that desire with an impressive strike to earn Newcastle a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Intertoto Cup third round tie against Lillestrom.
PHOTO: AP
Roeder, who rarely started Luque after replacing Graeme Souness as boss last season, is likely to stick with the former Mallorca player for next Saturday's return leg in Norway.
It seems the Intertoto Cup brings the best out of Luque, who earned his ?9.5 million (US$17 million) move to Tyneside after impressing then-boss Souness in Deportivo's win against Newcastle in the competition last season.
Roeder remains to be convinced Luque can cut it in the Premiership but the forward insists he will prove his worth by helping Newcastle clinch a UEFA Cup spot.
Luque said: "I was very happy to score the goal. Last season was not good for me. I got injured in my second game and it was a tough season. But I'm happy here and Newcastle are counting on me. I have no need to move clubs."
"A draw is not bad for us, of course it would have been nice to win, but we will go to Norway full of confidence and we know what we have to do," he added. "We know how important the game is because it is the ambition of every one of us to get the club into Europe for the new season."
Coach Roeder isn't going to call off his search for another striker just yet but added: "It was a very good goal, clever play and calmly slotted away. I hope the goal has helped him and I hope he grows in confidence in the coming weeks."
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