Gooch new star in stripes as Bellamy and ’Pool tamed

AMERICAN international Oguchi Onyewu is proving a star in stripes at Newcastle, where the defender played a significant role in ensuring a losing start to Liverpool’s new era under American billionaires Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The player already nicknamed “Gooch” by his new team-mates has delighted manager Glenn Roeder by settling in quickly as he tries to win a permanent contract.

And his popularity with the Newcastle supporters was guaranteed yesterday as Onyewu leaked details of his physical and verbal sparring with Craig Bellamy.