Lomana LuaLua is Newcastle's fast and skillful Zaire born striker signed for £2.25m from Colchester United in September 2000. He is a very exciting player, and is another of member of Newcastle's young and developing side. He has great dribbling skills and is capable of opening up the best defences.

LuaLua came from Zaire to England in 1989 and was spotted at 17 years old playing for Leyton College in London, and taken to Colchester. He made his league debut for Colchester in January 1999 and was joint second top league scorer with 12 goals the following season.

Several clubs were tracking him before Sir Bobby Robson put down the money to take him into the Premiership. He made his debut as a substitute the day after he signed for the Magpies, coming on against Charlton at St James' Park and scored his first ever goal for the Toon in the opening game of Newcastle's 2001-02 campaign, a spectacular overhead kick in the 4-0 Intertoto Cup win against Sporting Lokeren.

LuaLua scored his first league Newcastle goal against Derby County in March 2002, and celebrates his goals by performing an amazing gynamstic performance. In 2002-03, LuaLua started fantastically, scoring twice in a 4-0 win against West Ham, but lost his place in the side to Craig Bellamy.

Lomana has also won international honours for the DR Congo, and scored his first goal for them against Botswana last season. He has struggled to make the first team place at United his own though, but is maturing more and has made many substitute apearences. Next season, he will be looking to keep up his good work so far and haul himself up the pecking order for one of the Magpies striker spots.