Marlon in line for Newcastle call-up

Feb 8 2008

MARLON Harewood has waited six months for his first Premier League start at Villa Park but his patience could be finally rewarded.

The £4million summer signing from West Ham was so out of touch until a 24 minute substitute appearance at Liverpool, where he scored with an overhead kick.

He followed that with another half-hour of promise against Blackburn when he was unlucky to see a header smack against the crossbar.

And he was in the thick of things straight after half-time at Fulham in a 45 minute appearance - his longest to date.

Harewood has scored three goals in two starts and 10 substitute appearances in all competitions and Martin O'Neill admits he has a chance of replacing Gabriel Agbonlahor.

"He obviously made a great impact up at Liverpool," said O'Neill.

"He had the header against Blackburn Rovers and I thought he didn't do too badly in what wasn't a particulary good performance at Fulham. I thought he did okay in the game."

O'Neill has one or two other options as he assesses the fitness of a string of first-teamers who were away on international duty.

"People are striving. Shaun Maloney came into the team last weekend," said O'Neill.

"The players who are being replaced, as in the case of Ashley Young for that game, or Gabby if that is the case tomorrow, are particularly good players.

"You want everybody up to the task."