Tuesday 25th April 2000 : Lionel sticking around ... well, for a bit longer!

Despite throwing his goalkeeping jersey into the Newmarket Road End after yesterday's match, Lionel Perez is not returning to Newcastle United just yet.

The flamboyant Frenchman has become an instant hero and crowd favourite since arriving on loan on deadline day last month but his gesture, coupled with reports that Newcastle were facing a shortage of fit goalkeepers, led to fears that he would be returning to the North East now that the U's are all but secure in Division Two. Only two defeats for the U's and two wins for Oxford by margins in each of about 15 goals can relegate United now.

Club secretary Andrew Pincher said today that he had no knowledge of any moves to curtail Perez's loan spell at the Abbey, so arrangements will have to be made to adapt another short-sleeved shirt for the goalkeeper, who must have enjoyed his 33rd birthday yesterday!

However, any hopes of keeping Perez on a permanent basis are likely to be dashed, with his wages reported to be £5,000 by Newcastle's Evening Chronicle.