Ex-Toon Striker Set To Ruin Mackems Dream?

The 35-year-old striker, who has made only nine first-team starts for Pompey since a £500,000 move from Manchester City in August, approached boss Harry Redknapp over his frustration at not playing regularly.

And he has been given the green light to go on loan to Championship promotion-chasers Birmingham until the end of the season.

Harry Redknapp: "Andy came to see me and said 'Harry, I'm 35, I want to be playing all the time'. I understand where he is coming from. He wants to play regularly. He's one of those guys who wants to be starting every game. And you have got to respect him for that.

"If he feels like that, you can't stand in his way. He's not happy to just sit back and take his money.

"It's been difficult fitting him into the team every week with the other strikers we have. Birmingham want to take over his contract until May 30, which covers the play-offs.

"So it all depends on what happens at Birmingham and what he wants to do."

Cole only played against Sunderland once in a Newcastle shirt. The 1-0 win at St James' Park in the paddy field, when Scott Sellars cut through the water to score the winner back in our promotion season of 1993.

1993/95 A.A.Cole 83/1 68
Signed from Bristol City and took the place by storm with his powerful running, superb finishing, and uncanny partnership with Peter Beardsley. Left under a cloud when he was sold to Manchester United and said he was joining a better club. OK, perhaps he was, but we didn't want to hear it. Born in Nottingham.