By Nick Raynor
July 29 2006

Ahead of Saturday’s friendly against PSV Eindhoven, Glenn Roeder has told skipper, Scott Parker, that he is free to roam.

Parker was named captain after Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer retired from football at the end of the last season.

 

Parker enjoyed a good year in the centre of midfield, quickly becoming a fans favourite on Tyneside.

 

And in the Intertoto Cup and friendly against Norwich, the former Chelsea and Charlton midfielder has looked in good form when allowed to move around the pitch, and not just act as the holding midfielder.

 

Roeder said:

 

“We have already seen the benefits of giving Scott Parker a lot more freedom this season and I do not want to put and ball and chain around his legs.

 

"He is not a holding player say like Michael Carrick is, but more of a box-to-box player who can do a bit of everything.

 

"In fact, if I am ever going to have to use a holding midfield player I think I would rather go for Emre than Scott Parker."

 

Parker said:

 

“The manager has been saying for some time that I can get forward more if I want and it is going well.

 

"I set that one up for Shola in Oslo last Saturday and I know I should have scored one myself near the end when I was left with a one-to-one with their keeper.

 

"But it is a couple of years since I was last in that position and I know that I should have hit it earlier than I did.

 

"I tried to sit the keeper down but he did not want to sit down and in the end he saved my shot."