Luque: I'll battle for Newcastle spot
Newcastle striker Albert Luque remains determined to fight back from his disappointing first season in the Premiership.
The Spanish international has only played 11 games and scored one goal since joining the Magpies from Deportivo La Coruna in a £9.5m deal last summer.
Luque is under contract for a further four years with Newcastle, but has fallen out of favour under caretaker manager Glenn Roeder, who again left out the winger in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Liverpool.
“First it was injury that made it more difficult for me to adapt to the Premier League,” Luque told the Spanish press.
“Then when I was well and playing, the new coach took over and he is not giving me much playing time.
“I’m training well and I have the enthusiasm to turn around this situation.”
However the 28-year-old is aware his chances of playing for Spain in the World Cup finals this summer are now limited.
Luque had played in the 2002 World Cup with Spain as a substitute.
“It’s a pity because the World Cup is in June,” he said.
“I’m not playing regularly and this is complicating my hopes of going to the World Cup.”
