Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa keen to be back in action for Newcastle after being missing since his “nightmare” performance against Pompey. Only playing for 17 minutes, Cacapa headed down to the St. James’s tunnel after being replaced by David Rozehnal.

Allardyce later told the press the reason he replace him was because he has a slight hamstring injury, not because of his slump performace in two occasions. But today, he is expected to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly against a Hartlepool XI.

”Everybody knows what happened against Portsmouth last month, but what I have to say is that everybody can have an off-day.” Said Allardyce, ”Claudio made a couple of mistakes in the space of five minutes and that’s why I brought him off.”

Since then, Newcastle United was failed to keep any clean-sheets since a 0-0 draw at Manchester City on November 11, 2006 and Allardyce is keen to change that record when travelling to Craven Cottage this Saturday.

”It’s too early to start to talk about our team for Fulham but we have to stop conceding silly goals.” Allardyce said.

Meanwhile, Toon legend Chris Waddle has backed Habib Beye to get even better in a black-and-white shirt. As a former journeyman Waddle knows all about the journey that Beye has made. During his time in France with Marseille, Waddle discovered the differences between the English top flight and Ligue 1.

“I think the big difference is the pace of the game and how much time you have on the ball, which means you have less time to think.” Waddle said, “And that can be a factor especially for players who aren’t used to it.”

Newcastle this season have three ex-Ligue 1 players in Cacapa, David Rozehnal and Beye, so Waddle thought that they are still getting used to life in the Premier League. He believe with game by game they will getting stronger and learning how to cope with life in Premierships, one of the world’s fiercest and quickest league.

“Once you have learned to cope with the pace of things in England, you will do much better. And in six months or so both players will know exactly what it’s about, and you’ll see that in their performances.” Said Waddle.

Here’s a video of Waddle’s magic solo run in England World Cup 86 qualifier 5-0 win against Turkey.

Sam Allardyce’s target since last summer, Barcelona star Edmilson currently also get the attention from Italian club AC Milan who are monitoring Brazilian fitness progress.

Meanwhile, Newcastle new boy Cacapa is known to have a good friendship with his former Brazil and Lyon team-mate Edmilson and he said they could work in Newcastle’s favour.

“From what I can gather, Claudio Cacapa and Edmilson are big mates and would like to play together in the same side.” Allardyce added.

Allardyce admitted he is still hopes to bring the Brazilian international defender to St James’s Park but not in January transfer window. He is keen to signed him when his contract at the Nou Camp expires at the end of the season. Edmilson can also operate as a holding midfield player.

In an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, Big Sam said Edmilson is not an option for us in January.

“He has not played at all this season and it would be too much of a risk to bring him here next month. But I will be certainly interested in going for him in the summer.”

Allardyce accepts Newcastle’s chairman Chris Mort warning about no transfer fees available for him in January. He also denied any reports saying FC Copenhagen’s defender Brede Hangeland and Steaua Bucharest centre-half Dorian Goian were on their way to Tyneside in January.

“Hangeland is not on our radar and, while I had a look at Goian in the summer, he is not for us.” Said Allardyce.

Ask any players who ever playing for Newcastle about how does it feels to scores infront 50,000 plus Toon Army crowd at St. James’ Park, to hear the Geordies roar, screaming out your name until lost their voice.

Ask the latest lad who has scores his first ever goal for the mighty Magpies, Claudio Caçapa, when his thunderous headed ball went in Spurs goal. That was not his first goal of his carreer but he feels that Monday’s goal he made was a very special one.

He said: “I scored around seven goals for Lyon in my seven seasons with them, but none of them gave me as much pleasure as that one on Monday night and I really do feel that I can get more.”

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