Magpies wait on N'Zogbia fate

Newcastle may have to wait a month for a court decision on the future of French midfielder Charles N'Zogbia.

The 19-year-old, chief operating officer Russell Cushing and the club's lawyers attended a seven-hour hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland on Monday as the teenager's former club Le Havre continued their legal fight against his transfer to St James' Park in September 2004.

Le Havre are challenging a FIFA decision which ordered the Magpies to pay them compensation rather than reinstate the player to their ranks.

While Newcastle could have to wait until well into July for a decison, N'Zogbia will be able to return for pre-season training with the rest of his team-mates next Monday and start preparations for the new campaign.

Graeme Souness' side kick off their season with an Intertoto Cup third round, first leg game on the weekend of July 16/17.

N'Zogbia signed for the club on September 2 lst year after impressing during a summer trial under then manager Sir Bobby Robson.

The Magpies pushed the deal through after receiving confirmation from FIFA's players' status department, through the Football Association, that they could do so in return for a compensation payment.

Le Havre argued that under French Federation regulations, the player had to stay with them as an apprentice for two years, although to no avail.

N'Zogbia made his senior debut for the club as a last-minute substitute in the 3-0 win over Blackburn on September 11 as a replacement for Laurent Robert with caretaker boss John Carver giving him his chance.

He went on to make a further 19 apppearances, 11 of them as a starter, as Robson's successor Graeme Souness exiled Robert to the sidelines and handed the teenager the chance to show what he could do.

Indeed, he started the last seven games of the season, and was used as a substitute in the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium just three days after suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder in Lisbon.