Brian Laudrup, reputedly hired by Chelsea at £50,000 a week, wants the opportunity to prove he is not an expensive luxury by justifying those mouthwatering wages on the pitch.
The Dane chose the eve of Chelsea's opening defence of the Cup Winners' Cup against Helsingborgs at Stamford Bridge (tonight, Network 2, 7.40) to voice his frustration after playing only some 60 minutes for his new employers. "I need all the playing time I can possibly get right now," he said.
Laudrup is hardly alone in complaining about Gianluca Vialli's so-called rotation system. Tore Andre Flo, joint leading Premiership scorer last season, has yet to start a game this campaign despite indicating his unhappiness with a bench seat last spring.
Vialli has largely depended on his fellow Italians Gianfranco Zola and the club's record £5.4 million signing Pierluigi Casiraghi so far, but the latter's failure to score in five games is raising his Scandinavian rivals' frustrations.
Laudrup said Vialli's message to the forwards had been that "none of us can feel secure of a spot. That's a new situation for me that I have to get used to". But he added: "I didn't like the same system when I was at Milan."
Whatever his striking choice, Vialli is set to recall Dennis Wise to midfield after suspension, but must make a defensive change with Dan Petrescu banned.
Speculation about Alan Shearer's future has overshadowed Newcastle United's preparation for their tie with Partizan Belgrade at St James' Park. Shearer and his new manager Ruud Gullit both stated publicly yesterday that he is staying at the club.
The striker issued a statement saying: "If I comment on speculation every time it is written I would be in the press all the time. However, because the fans have specifically asked, I can say that I have spoken with the chairman and the manager and they have told me they see me as an important part of Newcastle's future."
Gullit believes transfer tales surrounding Shearer stem from "other people trying to create conflict" and he said of Shearer's statement: "The conflict is out of the way now. It's good for Alan and the club. Alan has told me he wants to stay and I have already said he is not for sale and I don't want to sell him."
Tonight's match holds much potentially embarrassment for Newcastle. Although the Yugoslavs have an average age of 21, they are treating this trip as a stage on which to shine. Yet given the Newcastle players' experience of Europe in the past few years and Shearer's return to form, Gullit's side should do enough tonight to make the second leg less daunting. Temuri Ketsbaia is set to partner Shearer up front again, even though Stephane Guivarc'h scored in a practice match against York on Tuesday.
