DAVID Rozehnal became the first casualty of Kevin Keegan’s return to Newcastle United when he was surprisingly allowed to join Lazio last night – but there were no new arrivals to boost the Magpies.
 Rozehnal has initially joined the Italian giants on loan until the end of the season, but the move is expected to become a permanent one in the summer when Keegan can freshen up his squad. United’s manager had hoped to strengthen his first team during the January transfer window, but the only new signing on transfer deadline day was the 17-year-old Italian striker Fabio Zamblera from Atalanta, who is not expected to feature in the first team this season. With new arrivals always unlikely, Keegan had insisted at the start of the week he could not allow anyone to leave the club, but changed his mind when it became clear Rozehnal was unhappy at St James’s Park. The centre-back had admitted this week he felt “bitter” at not being used in his preferred position as a centre-back and he feared he would lose his place in the Czech Republic squad if he was not playing regular football for Newcastle. With that, far from assured under Keegan, the 27-year-old was quick to accept the offer of an escape to Serie A. “David Rozehnal joined Newcastle only last summer but has not been playing in his regular position in defence,” said the player’s agent Pavel Zika last night. Earlier in the day, Rozehnal had complained to a Czech newspaper about his treatment, although he also insisted he would fight for his place. He said: “I am bitter. I was looking forward very much to coming to Newcastle after playing at Club Brugge and PSG. Now I am not sure if this looks like a dream spell. Once I play as right-back, then left-back, then in right midfield or as a defensive midfielder. I am so sad that I don’t play as much as I wish to, but I will fight on.” Rozehnal was signed for £2.9m from French side Paris-Saint Germain by former manager Sam Allardyce and, although he initially thrived in the Premier League, he began to struggle with the physical nature of English football and lost his place in the side before Keegan’s arrival a fortnight ago. The decision to allow Rozehnal to leave was probably helped by the fact Senegal have been knocked out of the African Cup of Nations. That means both Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye could be back on Tyneside in time to play in the Tyne-Tees derby against Middlesbrough on Sunday. Beye has arguably been the best of Allardyce’s Newcastle signings, with Faye his only rival. Senegal had been expected to do well in the Cup of Nations but have failed to find any sort of form, and last night’s 1-1 draw with South Africa was not enough to send them into the knockout phase. In the night’s other game, Tunisia and Angola drew 0-0 to ensure they claimed the top two spots in Group D and progressed to the quarter-finals at Senegal’s expense. Nevertheless, Keegan’s willingness to lose a member of his first-team squad does appear a little strange, as he has not been able to strengthen in any department. Newcastle’s boss met the club’s new management trio – Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere – face-to-face for the first time yesterday and plans have already been put in place to help with the improvement of the squad when the transfer window re-opens in the summer. Meanwhile, Newcastle failed to land another youngster when they missed out on Czech prospect Lubos Kalouda. United had hoped to beat Juventus in the race to sign the 20-year-old midfielder, but will have to renew their interest in the FC Brno player in the summer. “We were unable to realise the whole transfer in such a short time,” said Brno chairman Roman Pros. “Both in the business point of view, the medical and the agreement of agents it was not possible with the window closing at midnight.” I am bitter. I am not sure this looks like a dream spell. I’m so sad I don’t play as much as I wish to | 
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