Asprilla expected to return to Newcastle

COLOMBIAN striker Faustino Asprilla is expected to return to Tyneside later this week to complete his protracted £6.7 million move to Newcastle.

Asprilla's on-off transfer from Parma appeared to be dead and buried earlier this week with doubts remaining about a knee injury and the size of the fee.

But the 26-year-old World Cup star told reporters after a training session with Parma yesterday: "I have had a long talk with Kevin Keegan, who wants me at all costs.

"I feel like a doll that has been tossed about from one side to the other. Now it seems that the deal has been agreed and I will show what I am worth by scoring goals."

Parma's lawyer Leandro Cantamessa said Asprilla could travel to England soon.

"We are just agreeing again the old contract but the preliminary issues raised by Newcastle have gone. The English club admitted it had made a mistake and naturally there will be no reduction in the price," he said.

Newcastle chief executive Freddie Fletcher said he expected the Asprilla deal to be completed in the next two or three days.

But the club have rejected suggestions that Parma are insisting on an admission from Newcastle that they were mistaken in raising medical doubts over the player.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough hope to sign Brazilian international defender Claudio Branco before tonight's FA Cup game against Wimbledon at the Riverside Stadium.

The 31-year-old full-back trained with the Boro players yesterday before having contract talks with manager Bryan Robson.

"Branco is a free agent after buying out his own contract so there is no problem over a fee," said Rob son.

The Brazilian's debut would have to be delayed, however until the necessary documentation is processed - and that could take up to a month.

Leyton Orient's chairman Barry Hearn, yesterday demanded tougher action by the English Football Association against drug abusers after sacking defender Roger Stanislaus.

He said the FA were too lenient last week when they slapped a 12-month football ban on the 27-year-old for taking cocaine before playing against Barnet in November.

Hearn, who also has substantial snooker and boxing interests, wants more widespread drug testing to remove the shadow left hanging over football by the Stanislaus case - and stiffer penalties for offenders.