Former Rangers striker Nacho Novo will make his first start for Sporting Gijon today against Real Mallorca.

Novo was a late substitute in Sporting's 4-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid on the opening weekend of league action and has since admitted his frustration at both being on the bench and at having to play on the wing.

But Sporting coach Manuel Preciado says Novo is better suited to a wing role - for now.

"Novo will play where the coach says, and at the moment the coach believes that, in the Spanish league, Novo can perform better on the wing than as a striker," he said.