By Matthew Jones
May 12 2004

Newcastle United and Wales midfielder Gary Speed, is upset at the way the fans have treated the team recently... especially the stick young Hugo Viana has received recently.

Speed was also embarrassed about the fact that his side were booed off the pitch after their draw with Wolves on Sunday.

Speed said:

"Everybody has their agenda on Laurent but he's part of the team and if you are booing him you're booing us.

"We are all motivated by the disappointment of Sunday's result.

"And as for Hugo, I have never experienced anything like that before. He's only 21 and a great lad.

"I felt embarrassed for him. Nobody should go through that, especially somebody like him. I can understand the fans being upset and frustrated because we feel the same way.

"It's just the situation we are in. If we had been in mid-table there would have been a full house. But it's because we are in touching distance of achieving something and it seems to be slipping away.

"The fans won us the game against Chelsea the week before. A week later and it's totally different.

"Hugo showed what he can do against Chelsea. He was one of our best players against a top team. You can't play well every week."

21-year-old Hugo Viana has struggled to earn a regular first team place and has admitted that he would love to leave St James' Park if it meant that he would get regular games.

The Portuguese ace moved to Newcastle from Sporting Lisbon back in Just 2002 for £8.5m, but has failed to earn his desired regular place.

Speaking to Portuguese paper 24 Horas, Viana said:

"Leaving Newcastle would be news I would receive with open arms.

"The first year here was very good while the coach relied on me.

"But then he stopped using me and I don't have the slightest idea why. So if they want to sell me, I would respect that decision."

Viana almost moved back to Sporting in December, but due to an injury-his Magpies' squad, Newcastle boss Sir bobby Robson felt he had to stop the move.

Hugo added:

"I will never forget that situation, nor the month I spent without any help from Robson. This is why I am unsatisfied.

"If I left Newcastle I would go to any club which would be happy to have me. I have no preferences, even in Portugal."