Michael Walker talks to Newcastle United's Peruvian international who, despite recent good form, has lost the support of manager Bobby Robson
Nolberto Solano is a man refusing to blow his own trumpet. This comes as both a bit of a shame and a bit of a surprise given the Peruvian must be the most famous trumpet-playing footballer ever. Solano's answerphone used to feature a tootling introduction from himself. He used to bring his trumpet into the dressing-room at Newcastle. It is said Bobby Robson is not a fan.
Whether that is of Solano himself or of Solano's trumpet is a moot point. When Robson said last week there are players who are "buyable" at Newcastle United it was assumed Solano is one of them. Robson said David O'Leary has not contacted him but did say there is "something in the air with Aston Villa" regarding Solano. Even after upbeat Solano performances against Southampton and Leeds it seems that, as Johnny Cash said, the music has all gone between Robson and Solano.
"It's nice, I like it - somebody is interested in me," Solano said of transfer speculation. "It's better than nobody. But it's rumour, not the truth. The club know my situation, what's really happening. I'm very happy, I'm very pleased to be at this club and I'm not pushing to go."
Fans made a point of singing Solano's name at St James' Park on Wednesday night and the chances are they will be doing so once January has passed. Aston Villa do not have a large kitty for transfers and Solano's wages at Newcastle would crack the ceiling at Villa Park. And Lee Bowyer, the man who displaced Solano earlier in the season, is injured. In many supporters' eyes Bowyer should not have been ahead of Solano anyway.
Robson thinks differently - Solano has only six league starts this season - and the perfunctory handshake when he substituted Solano on Wednesday told of a relationship bruised.
Solano said: "Sometimes it's been disappointing after being here a long time and playing all the time. Sometimes I've not even been in the squad. But now I've got the chance again. That's six games I've started and there is only one way to prove to the manager I'm back to my best form and that is to work hard."
Signed from Boca Juniors by Kenny Dalglish in 1998 for the official sum of £2,763,958 - Diego Maradona christened Solano the Little Maestro at the Argentinian club - Robson's dissatisfaction with Solano stems from his trips to South America to play for Peru. Robson has sought assurances from Solano he would call an end to transatlantic travel but Solano has pressed on.
In November in Lima he scored for Peru against Brazil in a 1-1 World Cup qualifier - Rivaldo scored for the Brazilians - and Solano said he intends to play in the next fixture, too, against Colombia at the end of March. It is likely he would miss Newcastle's home game with Everton. "I will go home," Solano said of the Colombia game. "I don't think it causes me a problem here, I have a good relationship with the manager. It's okay, he understands. I think it's good for a club to have internationals and it would be disappointing for people in Peru."
Robson is less agreeable to the situation than these words suggest. But, while Bowyer is injured and Kieron Dyer fills in up front, Solano occupies the right flank as he has done for five seasons. In that time Newcastle have beaten tomorrow's opponents, Manchester United, only twice in 11 league meetings. But recent victories over Southampton and Leeds have fostered confidence, as has Dyer's forward role.
"Kieron used to play in that position," enthused Solano. "When Craig Bellamy was injured before, Kieron was always first choice to play in that position. Sometimes we need somebody with pace up front to play beside Alan because it gives the midfield more variety to choose.
"It's not news that Manchester United is one of the best teams in the world. We have to go and play confidently and not be afraid. If you give Manchester one chance they score. It's all about mistakes. If someone scores a goal against you like Laurent Robert's against Tottenham, then you accept that. But mistakes, you cannot allow that. We need to be more consistent."
Which, of course, is what the chairman Freddy Shepherd said before the Southampton game.
"The chairman can do anything and say anything he wants. It would be better if he had said it face to face to the players. If I wanted to say something to him I wouldn't call you and say, 'please tell the chairman this is my opinion'. So I don't know if it was right. We are professional, we are proud, we know the supporters travelled however many miles it is to Southampton. We feel that."
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