I've followed Scottish game since Claudio Caniggia signed for Dundee, says Argentine Jonas Gutierrez

Nov 16 2008 By Gavin Berry

ARGENTINA ace Jonas Gutierrez admits he has been intrigued by Scottish football since Claudio Caniggia put pen to paper for Dundee.

And the Newcastle United winger will finally get his first taste of our game when he runs out at Hampden to face Scotland on Wednesday night.

Gutierrez is set to feature when fans' favourite Diego Maradona takes charge of Argentina for the first time in midweek.

Caniggia played alongside close pal Maradona for the national team and is also hero-worshiped by the football-mad public.

So Gutierrez started following the SPL when the striker popped up at Dens Park eight years ago after spending much of his glittering career in Italy's Serie A.

The 25-year-old said: "I knew when Claudio signed for Dundee that Scotland must be an attractive place to play your football.

"When he joined Dundee it made people in Argentina stand up and take notice. We started hearing a lot about the SPL.

"I was still playing with Velez Sarsfield in Argentina when Claudio moved to Dundee.

"It's not normal for Argentinians to go to Scotland and I remember thinking: 'If a player I've been following since Caniggia went of Caniggia's quality goes there it must be a strong league'.

"I also know Gabriel Amato moved to Scotland with Rangers.

"He played for my former club Real Mallorca and I knew of him when he was in Argentina with River Plate."

Maradona's squad is packed with superstar talent and Scottish fans are in for a treat when Argentina arrive in Glasgow.

Most of the big names will fly in but Gutierrez and Toon team-mate Fabricio Colocciniwill make the trip north from Newcastle by train.

Wednesday's game might not be competitive but Jonas insists Argentina don't do friendlies.

And with Maradona at the helm they will be even more desperate to beat George Burley's troops.

He said: "Our national team has to win every game. That won't change on Wednesday and we have a new manager so there will be an extra incentive.

"Playing for Argentina is the greatest feeling in the world.

"We don't even care about the amount of travelling - we just want to turn up because it's such an honour to wear the shirt.

"The Hampden game is important for the whole squad because we're starting a new era under Diego and want to win.

"It's incredible for the players that Maradona is the manager because he's our childhood hero.

But we're trying not to think of Diego as that - and should only see him as our boss. We want to do great things for him.

"I have many memories of Diego and the World Cups he played in.

"I remember him most from USA 94 because I was older. But I have seen lots of footage of his great performances in previous years.

"When he named the squad for Hampden he called all the players.

"I spoke to him for a couple of minutes and even that phone call was an incredible experience.

"Maradona is going to be a fantastic manager. He knows a lot about the Argentina team because he has so much experience of playing for his country.

"Everyone in Argentina wants him to be in charge and he has a good chance to win the World Cup as a player and manager.

"To the people of Argentina and the world, Maradona is the best.

"That won't change - even if he doesn't succeed as our manager.

"The people will always be with him no matter what happens. But the players will try to make sure his time as boss is a success.

"Some of the best players in the world are Argentinian and we must try to build a great team with those talented individuals.

"It's difficult to explain why we haven't been doing so well lately.

"We are expected to win every competition and it's hard to say why we haven't won a World Cup or Copa America recently. I can't put my finger on it."

Scotland keeper Craig Gordon is struggling to be fit for the Hampden clash as he recovers from an ankle injury picked up with Sunderland.

Gutierrez plays for the Black Cats' bitter rivals and hopes he can pay Gordon back for a recent defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby.

He said: "I've been reading about Scotland and know Barry Ferguson will return after nearly six months out with a knee injury.

"And Gordon is also the keeper of my great club rivals Sunderland.

So surely that means we have to score against him! I've never been to Scotland but I know they have a strong national team.

"So it's going to be a difficult match but one we can win."

Gutierrez is known as Spiderman after pulling on the superhero's mask when celebrating a goal at old club Mallorca.

The mask hasn't made an appearance at Newcastle yet but it could come out soon.

Jonas said: "Everyone talks about my Spiderman celebration and they want me to do it at Newcastle.

"But I'm worried the referee might book me for it.

"The other problem is I don't score that many goals.

"It doesn't bother me. I prefer setting up goals but if I score in the future I will do the celebration because the fans want it.

"I won't do it if I score my first goal for Argentina at Hampden because it's only a club celebration.

"I've only done it once - and it was down to a promise I made to some kids I met outside a cinema."