Whatever Happened To....Lomana Tresor LuaLua

Remember the name? Cult chant, crazy goal celebrations but ultimately not enough goals to remain a force in the Premiership. Yet this week Lomana Lua Lua, ex Colchester, Newcastle and Portsmouth, was on the park in the Champions League.

The DR Congo international moved to Cyprus over the summer to join champions AC Omonia from Nicosia.The striker came on as a sub in the away leg of Omonia's aggregate 5-0 win over Renova of Macedonia. The match reports indicate the new man missed two late chances to open his account- sounds familiar.

Lua Lua was Sir Bobby Robson's signing from Colchester in 2000, who had acquired him from college football.He always had masses of enthusiasm, plus bags of pace and strength but fell down on his finishing. The man from Kinshasha always appeared likely to crash in the odd screamer but bread and butter chances came and went regularly.

Newcastle first tracked his progress under Ruud Gullit when Colchester were honing his raw talent- he tended to get noticed for a goal celebration routine that would have scored 5.9 from a Russian gymnastics judge.

To be fair, he often played out wide and his willingness to run at defences could open things up for other players. At Newcastle he made 45 League apperances from the bench and just 14 as a starter; just 5 Premier League goals was the result.

Portsmouth did use him as a starter when he moved there in 2004 for £1.7 million and 15 League strikes resulted- but this was from 72 appearances. In summer of 2007 he signed for the Greek giants Olympiakos for a fee well over £2 million.

Lualua's strike rate improved just marginally in Greece. During his first season he delivered 5 goals in 21 matches but he was hampered by some serious injuries- he did win a championship medal though. The Greek club released Lua Lua after one season and the player moved to Al- Arabi in Qatar where he helped his new side win a Cup.

Olympiakos took him back on for a six-month stint from December 2009 and this time he hit the net three times in seventeen games. At this point his former coach in Greece, Takis Lemonis, took him to Cyprus.

Lomana Lualua has 18 international goals and will be remembered for his decision play on for his national side at the 2006 African Nations Cup after his infant son died suddenly. His brother Kazenga maintains the family connection with Newcastle United and has progressed through the youth ranks at St James's Park.

Red Bull Salzburg are next in line for Omonia who will be hoping that their new acquisition can open his account against the Austrian champions.