Luque gunning for United

ALBERT LUQUE completed his move to Newcastle yesterday and immediately set his sights on ending his goal-drought against Manchester United.

The 27-year-old Spaniard flew into Tyneside yesterday to undergo a medical before signing a five-year deal following Deportivo La Coruna’s acceptance of the Magpies’ offer, believed to be about £9.5m.

Luque, who has failed to score in four Champions League games against United, will go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Premiership clash against United after his international clearance arrived last night.

He is desperate for another crack at Alex Ferguson’s men.

“Manchester United are a very important club in world football and they have a great team,” he said. “It would be a great game for me to make my debut in.

“It would be nice to start with a victory. It is going to be very difficult, but it is a match we are capable of winning.

Luque is one of the targets the Magpies have set their sights on in an attempt to replace Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert and find some support for skipper Alan Shearer.

The move looked to have fallen through on Tuesday when manager Graeme Souness confirmed that what he described as his club’s “final” bid for the player had been rejected.

But, with the closure of the transfer window looming, they went back to Spain and made the breakthrough.

Newcastle remain in the market for an out-and-out striker with Real Madrid’s Michael Owen topping their list and Feyenoord’s Dirk Kuyt having emerged as another contender, but Luque, who will wear the number 20 shirt, is sure he can make an impact for his new club.

Meanwhile Alex Ferguson has claimed under-pressure Souness faces an almost impossible task trying to satisfy an expectant Newcastle public.

The Magpies last three managers - Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson - have all been sacked in August and with only one point from three games, defeat by Ferguson’s side would leave Newcastle in the relegation zone.

Ferguson knows far more is expected by the Magpies’ fanatical supporters. But given the club have not won a major domestic trophy since 1955, the United boss is not sure how realistic their demands are.

“Graeme seemed to be under pressure before the season had even started,” observed Ferguson, who had similar question marks placed over his future 12 months into his illustrious Old Trafford reign.

“They had a difficult season last year and they have those fans who are so emotional and fanatical, they expect to win the World Cup. There is great expectation around the place and while there is nothing wrong with that, it is sometimes hard to fulfil.”

Ferguson has spent the last few weeks observing the market to see if any attractive alternative purchases became available.

Speculation has strengthened about a pre-deadline day move for Bayern Munich’s Michael Ballack. However, Ferguson has now firmly quashed those rumours - and the suggestion any other deals will be done before the transfer window closes on August 31.

“There will be nothing before the transfer window,” he confirmed.