Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez has brought the soothing sounds of South America to Tyneside, writes Matt Leslie.

SHAKESPEARE once wrote “if music be the food of love, play on” – a line which Newcastle midfielder Jonás Gutiérrez would heartily concur with, so long as no one lets Tim Krul anywhere near the stereo.

For Gutiérrez, music helps him to enjoy both life and football and anything that has United’s Argentinian winger on song can only be a good thing ahead of today’s clash at Norwich.

Footballers psyching themselves up or relieving tension via music is nothing new and Gutiérrez and his team-mates certainly subscribe to this. For Gutiérrez, though, being so many miles away from his homeland, the sounds of Argentinian music such as Cuarteto and Charcarera provide are a comforting reminder of his roots.

It is a blend which he has shared – via Steven Taylor’s sound equipment – with his team-mates and has gone down well – especially the dancing that Jonás performs to accompany it. It provides a vibrant atmosphere in the United dressing room which helps keep team spirit high – as long as a certain Dutch goalkeeper’s selection isn’t played.

Gutiérrez said: “The music makes me happy. Especially in the morning when I get up and go in the car – it makes me feel much more closer to my country because it is music from Argentina that I listen to. For me, the music is really important in my life.

“I play it in the dressing room and at the training ground as well. We also have the iPod of Steven Taylor. He puts his music on, which is a selection of different types of music.

“If I can I dance along. If you win it is a good feeling to dance. If not then maybe not so. I’m the only one who does this, although Peter (Løvenkrands) is also a good mover.