Bassedas: Gutierrez will be a superhero on Tyneside

Jul 6 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

SPIDERMAN has been backed to maintain his superhero status at Newcastle — by the Magpies’ last Argentine import.

Christian Bassedas is confident that Jonas Gutierrez can succeed where he ultimately failed, and spin out a successful career in the Premier League.

Having watched Gutierrez rise to prominence in Argentina with his own former club Velez Sarsfield, Bassedas has kept a keen eye on the winger’s progress at Real Mallorca.

And the one-time United midfielder believes his compatriot is perfectly suited to the physical rigours of the Premier League.

“I think Jonas will have success because he is very good physically — maybe not the strongest but very quick down the flanks and hard-running,” Bassedas told the Sunday Sun.

“He gets up and down the wing without problem and puts in nice crosses. He will be an interesting addition to English football.

“He doesn’t look the characteristic South American player in my opinion. His other nickname is ‘greyhound’ because he never stops running.”

But Bassedas, having spent three years at St James’s Park and the last three seasons commentating on English football for Argentine TV, knows that both fitness and flair are required to succeed in our top flight.

And that’s why the memory of Argentina’s victory over Brazil last month answers any lingering doubt in Bassedas’s mind over Gutierrez’s prospects over here.

“He played really well for the national team in the World Cup qualifier against Brazil.

“It was a surprise because he had hardly played international football and is not such a big name here in Argentina.

“But the manager trusted him to take care of the Brazilian right-back, Maicom, and he did a really good job.”

And Bassedas, whose struggle to adapt to the Premier League was never down to a lack of commitment, added: “I will be jealous if Jonas is a new hero for Newcastle!

“But if the team and the city are doing well, I will be happy.”