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Solano Sets Sights On 20 Goals To Cap A Great Season - 02/04/2002

Nobby Solano takes on his favourite team Aston Villa at Villa Park tonight with goals very much on his mind.For the Newcastle United winger's double against Everton on Friday took him on to a round dozen in a black and white shirt this season.And this is easily the amiable Peruvian's best tally in his career both with Boca Juniors and United.

No wonder Solano was in high spirits as the United squad went through their final preparations for the Premiership match, telling me: "If you count the goal I scored for Peru at the beginning of the season, that's 13 for me now. "In my first three seasons for Newcastle I scored six, four and seven goals and I've never had this many before."When I was with Boca Juniors I was a four-goal-a-season man mainly because I played in a lot of different positions for them, including full-back."Now we are going to Aston Villa tonight where I scored last season. I also got a goal against them at home in the FA Cup last season and I would love to get another tonight."

The 27-year-old winger got off to a flying start with four goals in the Intertoto Cup, including the first candidate for the goal of the season when he ran from his own half and opened the scoring in Munich.He added: "I am very happy with my goals this season. But I want to score 20 and I would not be happy if we did not make the Champions' League next season. That's why tonight's game at Villa Park is so important to us, especially with Leeds losing at Spurs yesterday and Chelsea dropping two points at Ipswich."

Solano has never looked back since missing a couple of sitters in the derby draw with Sunderland at St James's Park in August. Certainly Bobby Robson is delighted with the goals and all-round contribution of his right-winger this season. The United boss said: "Nobby is a real intelligent player. He understands the game. He has a clever pass, a clever cross and a clever trick. And he is great in front of goal. I knew on Friday he would score those two goals because he keeps such a cool head."

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

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