Newcastle united

Magpies Play Down Robert's Claims Wed 29 Jun, 11:09 AM Newcastle were on Wednesday working to play down Laurent Robert's latest outburst after the Frenchman forecast that blossoming England midfielder Jermaine Jenas could be ready to quit Tyneside. In the second instalment of his parting diatribe in a national newspaper, the 30-year-old Portsmouth-bound winger voiced his belief that Jenas is at breaking point following the arrivals of Amdy Faye and Scott Parker. The Magpies, who on Tuesday fined Robert two weeks' wages for the broadside he aimed at manager Graeme Souness, have spent much of the past few weeks attempting to quell speculation surrounding the 22-year-old's future. Jenas has been repeatedly linked with moves to Arsenal and Tottenham, with Spurs reported at the weekend to have tabled a £6million bid. However, both Souness and chairman Freddy Shepherd have insisted the England midfielder remains part of the club's long-term plans. "JJ's an important member of the squad," Souness said recently. "I made him captain last year and that shows what I think of him." Jenas started 42 of the club's 57 matches last season and appeared as a substitute in six more, with injuries accounting for the bulk of his absences. However, there is little doubt he was more than disappointed to lose his place in the starting line-up for a five-match spell during February and March and that has helped to fuel the rumours of his departure. Shepherd, though, has given no encouragement to those clubs who may be tracking a man for whom he paid £5million as a teenager back in February 2002. "We have not heard from Tottenham and, even if we did, we would tell them that JJ is not for sale," he said earlier this week. "JJ is a player we all rate very highly - Graeme made him captain last season when Alan (Shearer) was injured and that shows how important he is to us - and he will not be going anywhere." Jenas made a superb start to his career on Tyneside, making the step up to the Premiership and later Champions League football with little difficulty. By his own admission his second season was more difficult and despite his elevation to the senior England ranks there are those who believe his development has slowed in recent times. Robert went further in an interview in today's Sun, suggesting Jenas will leave the club. "I have seen Jermaine Jenas growing up at Newcastle and he is a brilliant player who could become the new Patrick Vieira," he said. "But I know just how badly he took to being put on the bench last season. "Now he is at a turning point in his career and I think he will leave."

Fine game: Bullseye! "Now Laurent, you've got 45 grand a week - would you like to gamble it?" More quotes from Freddy as United hilariously confirmed on Wednesday that Laurent Robert had been fined another two week's wages following his latest comments (reproduced below.) "He was warned not to do it and he must suffer the consequences. "We have also reported him to the Football Association and we are seeking guidance from them on any further action they may wish to take." Lovely, super, smashing "180!" (thousand) United's publicised Club fines- 2005: Laurent Robert 4 weeks wages (June 2005) Lee Bowyer 6 weeks wages (April 2005 Craig Bellamy 2 weeks wages (Jan 2005) That's £400K plus by our calculations. 2005/06: More muck-raking from the Monsieur The real reason Robert left - he couldn't bear to be seen in our new home strip.... Another day, another Robert back page outburst, this time as he speaks up for Jermaine Jenas: "I have seen Jermaine Jenas growing up at Newcastle and he is a brilliant player who could become the new Patrick Vieira. "But I know just how badly he took to being put on the bench last season. Now he is at a turning point in his career and I think he will leave." Some facts for you. Jenas made 42 starts last season, 38 of them under Souness. He made 6 appearances from the bench in February and March, which he may not have been delighted about - but which is hardly grounds for a major fallout. Robert went on to comment on the apparent agreement between Pompey and United which prevents the Frenchman from playing against the Magpies next season - and seemed to confirm that he is on loan for the remaining season of his toon deal: "All I know is I have signed to play for Portsmouth for three years and that means in all games, including those against Newcastle." "It would be stupid if I were stopped from playing against them and I can't believe Portsmouth would be party to that. "But if Newcastle make any problems, I'll go back and spend the last year of my contract with them." So what's next for Robert to comment on? Smelly feet in the dressing room? Rush hour delays through the Tyne Tunnel? EU fishing quotas? Hook slung: Bon-ny Lad Freddy Shepherd's response to the Robert nonsense: "You should only say 'good' when somebody leaves. Laurent Robert has gone. Good." Sale not return: Never a Bellamy Bhoy borrower be Also from the Chairman, as he confirmed that Craig Bellamy will either remain at the club or be sold before the transfer window closes: "We played fair with everyone by letting him go to Celtic on loan since the start of the year. "We wouldn't and couldn't do that again. We won't let him go on loan." "If Celtic come in with an offer everyone knows we will help them in any way we can. "When they took him on loan I promised them first option and I will honour my word." 2005/06: Unconfirmed Sky switches Mackem websites are listing their Sky live fixtures despite no official announcement from Sky being forthcoming as yet - they claim that our home game against them will now kick off at 4pm on Sunday October 23rd. No confirmation of this or any other Sky live games as yet, but with Championship fixture transmissions announced on Tuesday, ours shouldn't be long in turning up. We've been sent the following Sky dates but these are yet to be confirmed. Hopefully, the first one listed will be postponed - this is when the second leg of the Intertoto Cup final is due to be played. Tuesday 23 August 8pm Bolton v Newcastle Utd Sunday 28 August 4pm Newcastle v Man Utd Sunday 2 October 2pm Portsmouth v Newcastle Sunday 23 October 4pm Newcastle v Sunderland Monday 5 December 8pm Newcastle v Aston Villa Sunday 11 December 4pm Newcastle v Arsenal Monday 19 December 8pm West Ham v Newcastle Monday 26 December 6.30pm Liverpool v Newcastle

Robert's exit a delight for boss Jun 29 2005 Freddie Shepherd last night admitted that he will be delighted to see the back of Laurent Robert after ensuring that the outspoken winger's final pay packet from Newcastle will be a severely depleted one. United officials are bracing themselves for a fresh outburst from the outspoken former Paris-Saint Germain winger after his stinging criticism of Graeme Souness yesterday saw United dock two weeks' wages from him. And with the 30-year-old still contracted to the Magpies until Friday morning, a player already fined an estimated £80,000 could incur further financial penalties should he aim more vitriol in the club's direction. Although Robert agreed to sign for Portsmouth two weeks ago, the transfer cannot be officially completed until the reopening of the international transfer window on July 1. That the Frenchman did not wait another three days to launch his outspoken attack on the manager who ended his four-year association with the club proved a costly mistake, with St James's Park officials moving quickly to fine him. Yet that is unlikely to bring the unfortunate episode to an close, with Robert expected to aim a further blast in Newcastle's direction having been paid to lift the lid on his controversial time on Tyneside by a national newspaper. United will monitor the situation closely before deciding whether further sanctions are appropriate. Whatever should happen, Robert's refusal to go quietly should come as no surprise. A player who has never shied away from voicing controversial comments pulled no punches as he accused Souness of lacking intelligence, blamed the United boss for a disastrous campaign, criticised the club for their treatment of former manager Sir Bobby Robson and insisted that the Scot's days at St James's Park are numbered. "Souness took Blackburn into the relegation zone and he looks like doing the same thing at Newcastle," declared Robert. "We finished last season so badly that towards the end I just laughed at him. He is just a child. We would have won the Uefa Cup last year if he had had the intelligence." Although Shepherd was furious at Robert's parting shot, the United chairman chose his words carefully and kept his terse response brief. "You should only say good when somebody leaves," he said curtly last night. "Laurent Robert has gone. Good." It was inevitable that Robert would have his say, having fallen out spectacularly with his manager. But that did not make his assertions any less damaging and, while Souness sensibly refused to become involved in a war of words last night, United were quick to act. "We have fined Laurent Robert two weeks' wages for a breach of club discipline," confirmed the club in a statement. It was the maximum fine that the club could impose and dwarfed the sum the player was reported to have been paid for the article. Whether Robert was aware that he could still be fined by Newcastle is unclear; what is certain is that the loss of two weeks' wages will not hurt the player and with the club powerless to gag their errant employee, it seems United will just have to ride out the storm. Yesterday's developments did raise further confusion in regard to the structure of the deal the Magpies have struck with Portsmouth. That neither club has given a definitive explanation has not helped, but it now seems that an initial season-long loan will become a permanent transfer next summer when Robert's present contract on Tyneside expires. United will be powerless to further fine the player once Pompey take over his contract at the end of this week. By then, though, it seems unlikely Robert will have anything else to say. Souness has kept a low profile since returning from Turkey at the end of last week having met the Internazionale midfielder Emre for talks. That deal has yet to be completed, but with Shepherd working behind the scenes to secure the 24-year-old's signature, the Newcastle manager is set to step up his efforts to lure Fulham's Luis Boa Morte to the North-East. Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has confirmed the Red Devils have not made an approach for Real Madrid winger Luis Figo. The Portuguese veteran has just a year left on his contract and, although reports suggest Real would be willing to release the 32-year-old early, Queiroz insists United have not made an enquiry. "We have made no contact with Figo but I am sure that he would have a place in all the top sides in the world," he said.

Jenas holds key to revival Jun 28 2005 Jermaine Jenas has been reassured that he has a pivotal role to play at St James's Park next season after Newcastle warned his suitors that the England midfielder is not for sale. The 22-year-old has emerged as a summer target for Tottenham but, despite reports of a £6m bid being tabled and rejected over the weekend, Freddie Shepherd last night insisted there has been no official contact between the two clubs. The United chairman is adamant that, even if Spurs do firm up the interest revealed by The Journal on Saturday, any approach would fall on deaf ears. "We have not heard from Tottenham and, even if we did, we would tell them that JJ is not for sale," explained Shepherd, of a player whose performances during England's post-season tour of the United States were monitored with interest in Premiership circles. Yet with both his manager and his chairman having told Jenas that his future lies in the North-East, it seems certain that the former Nottingham Forest favourite will report for the start of pre-season training at the club's Darsley Park training base in six days' time. "JJ is a player we all rate very highly - Graeme made him captain last season when Alan (Shearer) was injured and that shows how important he is to us - and he will not be going anywhere," said Shepherd. Jenas is understood to have sought talks with Graeme Souness following Scott Parker's £6.5m acquisition from Chelsea two weeks ago and, although Newcastle's sole summer signing to date will increase the competition in midfield, Jenas has been told that he will be at the heart of United's plans for next term. That Souness is confident of wrapping up a protracted deal for Emre this week means his first-team squad will be oversubscribed with midfielders - with the Turkish international set to join Parker, Jenas, Kieron Dyer, Amdy Faye, Nicky Butt and Lee Bowyer, all of them full internationals, on the payroll. There will have to be cuts in personnel in that department and Butt was last night linked with a move to West Ham. But whilst the Magpies have already shown that they consider Bowyer to be expendable by agreeing to sell him to Birmingham City - the proposed transfer collapsed last week - the club's stance is different in regard to Jenas. Martin Jol is known to be a great admirer of Jenas and sources at White Hart Lane have insisted all summer that the talented midfielder is at the top of the Dutchman's wanted list. But although Tottenham last week accepted a significant cash settlement following Frank Arnesen's controversial defection to Chelsea, it seems from Shepherd's response that United's number seven is beyond their reach. Talks are ongoing with Internazionale in an attempt to finally secure the signing of Emre following last week's positive meeting with Souness in Istanbul. And with the players scheduled to return to work on Tyneside on Monday, Souness will hope for a busy few days on the transfer front, having so far seen all his groundwork deliver just Parker to St James's Park. Having been given an initial indication that Emre would be allowed to depart the San Siro for £4m, United now find themselves in the invidious position of having persuaded the player to join them without striking a firm deal with his club. With a clutch of clubs tracking the 24-year-old - attractive to Souness as a result of his ability to perform on the left-side of midfield - the Serie A outfit are in a strong position as they attempt to extract the maximum possible fee. Shepherd will not be held to ransom but with discussions set to resume this morning, Souness remains confident of success.

United to sweat it out over N'Zogbia Jun 28 2005 Charles N'Zogbia could be forced to wait for a month to receive a definitive verdict on his Newcastle future following a seven-hour hearing at the Court for Arbitration in Sport in Switzerland yesterday. But the Frenchman - whose controversial transfer to Tyneside came under close scrutiny in Lausanne - will be free to rejoin his United colleagues for the start of pre-season training in six days time. N'Zogbia was accompanied by Newcastle's chief operating officer, Russell Cushing, and the club's legal advisers. The court was convened to determine whether a Fifa ruling which dictated that the teenager's disputed move from Le Havre last summer was legitimate was in itself legal. Newcastle had hoped for a quick decision but their representatives were told that the court could take as long as a month to make an announcement. In the meantime, there have been no restrictions imposed upon N'Zogbia, who was furious at Le Havre's attempts to wreck his Tyneside career last year. The N'Zogbia deal has been beset by problems ever since Sir Bobby Robson persuaded the midfielder to pledge his future to United following a successful trial in the North-East. Le Havre claimed the player was on an apprenticeship which, under French rules, compelled him to remain with them on a two-year development contract and engaged the support of their national Football Federation and Government Sports Minister. Yet Newcastle insisted such an arrangement contravened European laws governing the freedom of trade and won the support of Fifa, who ratified the deal following a protest by the French club. Fifa's Players' Status Department confirmed that N'Zogbia was entitled to move for the payment of compensation last September. Having already paid what they consider to be an acceptable level of compensation, the Magpies are expecting a positive outcome. "Fifa have already ruled in our favour and that's that as far as we're concerned," said chairman Freddie Shepherd last month. "We have paid the compensation, Le Havre have accepted the money, and Fifa are on our side. I can't do any more. Every penny due to Le Havre has been paid." Meanwhile, Mark Viduka last night insisted that he is concentrating all his efforts on playing a key role for Middlesbrough, despite finding himself linked with Newcastle. With the Magpies in dire need of striking recruits - Patrick Kluivert has departed, Shola Ameobi is injured and Craig Bellamy is banished - Graeme Souness can only count on the services of Alan Shearer and Michael Chopra at present. Yet the Australian is only thinking of pulling on the red shirt of Boro. He said: "I cannot wait to start playing again and I want success with Middlesbrough. It's a big season for the club."

Transfer watch: Christian: the chase is on Italian striker now a free agent: Friday's update from the Inter website: "Inter and Christian Vieri have decided to rescind the player's contract with the club, due to expire on June 30 2006. "Negotiations between the player and the club progressed smoothly, and the documents related to the issue were registered at the Lega Calcio offices this morning. "FC Internazionale thanks Christian Vieri for his contribution to the history of the club over the past six years. "Christian Vieri thanks Inter and its fans for the professional respect and affection which characterised the relationship." While we await news of a conclusion to the Emre saga (with the only thing apparently definite being that the Turk is leaving Inter), the future of a second Newcastle target at the San Siro is equally uncertain. Speculation that we were tracked Inter forward Christian Vieri first appeared within days of the end of last season, when it was confirmed the 31 year-old was expected to change clubs in a bid to ensure first team football and retain his place in the Italian international side. Vieri was then linked with a move back to one of his former clubs, Atletico Madrid where he would be paired with highly-rated home-grown forward Fernando Torres. However, the arrival of Mateja Kezman from Chelsea seems to have put the mockers on that, leaving Vieri's future in some doubt as he enters the final year of his Inter deal. Almost inevitably Everton have also been credited with interest in the player - which seems dubious given the huge wedge he's doubtless on and the Goodison wage ceiling. It's not the first time that we've had a special interest in Vieri, the striker being the subject of a complaint from Newcastle to UEFA in March 2003 arising from alleged racist abuse of then-United player Lomana LuaLua. More recently Vieri has been in on-field bother again and is due to serve a two-game suspension at the start of next season after being found guilty of striking a Reggina player in an off-the-ball incident picked up by TV cameras last season. PS - some reports on Thursday linked him to Chelsea. Speculation: Smith's not gigging in toon Friday's link brought us back once again to Alan Smith of Manchester United, which is no more likely than it was the last time back pages needed to be filled and it was written. Contract chance: Kenny's lad's a Hatter - maybe Former toon man Paul Dalglish is trying once again to restart his floundering career, having apparently hung up his boots for good last year in favour of a career in the media. Now 28, the striker is training with Luton Town on a trial basis, as the Hatters look to boost their squad ahead of their return to the Championship. Dalglish was last spotted playing in Northern Ireland with Linfield, after a meandering career that saw him turn out for Bury, Norwich, Wigan, Blackpool, Scunthorpe. It was also reported last year that he's linked up with Italian side Modena, but we don't think he ever actually played for them. Scandinavian fairy tale: You must be Flo-king..... Graeme Souness confirmed via the official website on Thursday that our alleged interest in signing former mackem plank Tore Andre Flo was pure fiction. Said Souness: "There is no truth in it whatsover." The story looks have originated on Sky Sports earlier on Thursday, having been filed by someone called Fotis Voinikas. It's the latest in a number of spurious overseas transfer links to have appeared from the same source - only to promptly disappear and never be heard of again. For instance, Sky have alleged this year that we are on the verge of acquiring such luminaries as: Samir Nasri, John Ruddy, Oguchi Onyewu, Jam Kromamp, Juan Riquelme, Yacine Abdessadki, Daniel Majstorovic, Salim Arrache, Ricardo, Anatolii Tymoschuk and Diego Milito. Who? exactly. Transfer watch: Inbound Nowt to report - we understand now that Chopra, Elliott and Caig have signed their one-year contract extensions - but there's been no announcement of this from the club. Transfer watch: Outbound Nowt to report. Pre-season training begins on Monday.

Patch it up for sake of United Jul 1 2005 Newcastle United legend Malcolm Macdonald today called on Graeme Souness and Craig Bellamy to patch up their differences - for the good of the club. Supermac believes Bellamy should apologise to Souness, captain Alan Shearer and his team-mates - and then be allowed to salvage his St James' Park career. Bellamy reports back for pre-season training on Monday not having kicked a ball for the Magpies since mid-January, when he had a public fall-out with his manager over tactics and was packed off on loan to Celtic. "If there is a way to patch things up with Craig Bellamy then marvellous," said Macdonald (pictured). "I say that because it's going to be very difficult to replace him. "It's creating a mountain where there shouldn't be one, but I don't know whether there is too much water under the bridge. "I know Craig Bellamy can be arrogant, but I'm sure if they could just get together and patch things up it would be for the good of the football club. The team and players play better when Craig Bellamy is in the side, and you don't want to lose someone like that. "The club needs to get the best side possible together and that includes Craig Bellamy. They need to get everyone playing, and I think if this could be resolved positively it would be a huge boost for the football club and the supporters. "Sometimes it takes a very, very big man to climb down and say sorry, and Bellamy needs to apologise to his manager and his team-mates." Supermac admits that he has done a U-turn on Bellamy's future, having originally written off his Magpies career following his public criticism of Souness. Macdonald said: "I've changed my mind. Initially I had wanted to get Craig Bellamy out and rebuild, but here we are in July and pre-season training is about to start and we are too many players short and too many goals short in the squad. Almost 20 goals have left the club this summer if you count those scored by Patrick Kluivert and Laurent Robert, and last season Newcastle United were 25 goals short anyway. If Craig Bellamy goes that's another 10-15 goals that will have left the club. "Pre-season training is about to start and he's still a Newcastle United player. The matter needs to be resolved. "Right now Newcastle United don't have a first team to put out - it's looking very thin and patchy. They need players to strengthen the team, never mind the squad. "Training starts on Monday and then before you know it half a dozen games have been lost and that's another season over, with the cups all that are left to play for. "And as long as Craig Bellamy remains a Newcastle United player there will be hell to pay every day. The press won't give any peace until there is a solution - and that is because the supporters want to know what is going on. I can understand that. "There are a lot of lessons to be learned - there's been a severe lack of diplomacy. "And if Craig Bellamy does go and then criticises the club, there's more mayhem. Players are shouting their mouths off and what message does that give to transfer targets? It makes the job of signing new players more difficult." Supermac likens Bellamy to Terry Hibbitt, signed by Joe Harvey in 1971 to provide to provide the service to the strikers. He added: "I remember Joe Harvey coming in during pre-season training before I'd kicked a ball for Newcastle United, saying `I've signed the man who will make the bullets for you to fire'. It was Terry Hibbitt from Leeds United. "He then turned round to leave, but before he left the dressing room he added: `Mind you, he causes trouble in an empty house'. If you think Craig Bellamy is bad, he's not a patch on Terry Hibbitt. "But I loved him to his dying day and still love him, because he could play. But there were times when I wanted to punch his lights out. "As mad and irritating as people like that are, you have to look to get the best out of them. Terry was brilliant for me and brilliant for Newcastle United. One of the first things I learned as a manager was that you don't have to like someone to pick them." Meanwhile, while the bulk of the squad return to training on Monday, Souness has given those who were on international duty this summer an extra week's rest. England midfielder Jermaine Jenas, Republic of Ireland duo Shay Given, Stephen Carr and France international Jean Alain Boumsong were all in action last month. Manchester United striker Alan Smith was today linked with a move to St James' Park, but the Chronicle understands the England international, a target of Sir Bobby Robson's while a Leeds United player, will not be leaving Old Trafford this summer.

Harper awaits his Celtic fate Jul 1 2005 Steve Harper will discover within the next week whether a dream move to Celtic is still possible as Gordon Strachan turns his attention to Parkhead's outstanding goalkeeping problem. Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has made it clear he does not want Shay Given's understudy to quit Tyneside, but the Scot would not stand in the way of the long-serving Magpies' favourite progressing his stalled career if the right opportunity arose. And Harper's name has come to the fore again following last month's confirmation that Celtic were considering a bid in excess of £1m for the Easington-born player. The Scottish Cup winners' number one target, Antti Niemi, is less likely to leave Southampton following the Saints' decision to sell high earner Kevin Phillips to Aston Villa this week. And Strachan's attempt to lure Chris Kirkland north of the border has failed after the Liverpool player opted to resurrect his injury-ravaged career at West Bromwich Albion. Wisla Krakow have encouraged the Bhoys to bid for Polish keeper Artur Boruc after negotiating the deal which will see his fellow countryman Maciej Zurawski move to Glasgow later this month. But it is Harper's proven Premiership quality - and his experience of top level European football - which interests Strachan as he seeks a long-term replacement for the departed Robert Douglas. What will concern United's number two, as he prepares to return for pre-season training on Monday, is the news that Celtic's goalkeeping coach Terry Gennoe was dismissed earlier this week. The former Newcastle coach struck up an excellent working relationship with Harper during their time together on Tyneside and there is no greater advocate of the 30-year-old's talents between the posts. And, although Gennoe no longer has an input in Parkhead's corridors of power, he made it clear just what Given's friend and rival had to offer prior to his departure. Harper has two years remaining on the extended deal he signed under Sir Bobby Robson and will give nothing less than 100% for as long as he is employed at St James's Park. However, a player who featured in a mere seven first team fixtures last season knows his career is at a crossroads following years playing in Given's imposing shadow. Few United fans would begrudge Harper his chance in the spotlight and Celtic would offer one of England's most underrated keepers the perfect platform to showcase his considerable skill. The Magpies always anticipated the former Huddersfield loanee moving on within the next two years and Souness is actively recruiting an emerging youngster from the Football League to groom as Given's long-term successor. Harper, of course, is loath to place too much faith in reported interest from Celtic - Bhoys' insiders made serious noises about signing the Newcastle stopper 12 months ago before the trail went dry. And United had received no firm bid from the Scots by close of business yesterday. *Valencia midfielder Edu has accused Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger of freezing him out when it became clear that the Brazilian midfielder wanted to leave the London club. Edu said: "My situation was bad because Arsene Wenger put a lot of pressure on me and kept me out a little because I did not want to sign a new contract (with Arsenal)."

Early start for skipper Jun 30 2005 Alan Shearer is facing the unwelcome prospect of being required to spearhead Newcastle's Intertoto Cup challenge as Graeme Souness continues to draw blanks in his summer search for striking talent. With United scheduled to open their competitive campaign in just 16 days' time, a player preparing to embark on the final year of his distinguished career is bracing himself for the possibility of having to make his earliest-ever start to a season. The striker - who will turn 35 in August - has admitted he struggled to cope with the rigours of the Premiership in the final stages of last term and was hoping to play a minimal role in the club's attempt to qualify for Europe via the much-maligned tournament. But with Shearer and Michael Chopra the only fit strikers certain to report for the start of pre-season training on Monday morning, that is a luxury he may not now be afforded. The prospect of playing a central role in five competitive fixtures before Newcastle's domestic opener at Highbury on August 13 was not part of the plan when the United skipper agreed to postpone his long-planned retirement for a further 12 months in April. But, with a summer of frantic discussions having yet to result in the acquisition of the additional attacking options Souness needs, Shearer knows he could have no choice but to lead from the front when the Magpies head to either Turkey or Slovakia on July 16. With Souness adamant that, no matter how desperate the situation becomes, Craig Bellamy will not wear a black-and-white shirt again, the departure of Patrick Kluivert to Valencia and the fitness troubles which have sidelined Shola Ameobi have left the United boss woefully short of strikers. That Chopra has - for all his lower league exploits - started just one top-flight match means that, even if Souness should make the breakthrough he is striving for, the addition of one new striker would leave the first-team squad still considerably weaker than it was at this time last year. The additional burden of the Intertoto Cup - a successful campaign would add six games to the club's schedule - means the striker situation is a matter of considerable concern. Having cooled on the idea of pursuing a bid for Robbie Keane, ruled out a move for Andrew Johnson and failed to get his interest in Mark Viduka off the ground, a manager who has seen Michael Owen repeatedly pour scorn on a proposed move to Tyneside has spent the majority of his summer attempting to add to his already-congested midfield ranks. With Scott Parker on board, the Scot remains determined to recruit Emre from Internazionale and Luis Boa Morte from Fulham. The latter could perform as an emergency striker but as with Kieron Dyer - who has begun talks over a new contract - fielding players out of position is far from ideal. It was another quiet day on the transfer front yesterday and, despite renewed claims from Emre's agent that the player's future would be decided, it remains unclear where the Turkish midfielder will be playing next season.

Robert must keep his head down now Jun 30 2005 Laurent Robert will be urged to keep a low profile by his new employers when he finally completes his protracted move to Fratton Park tomorrow. The outspoken Frenchman will become a Portsmouth player following the opening of the summer transfer window and, having made a controversial end to his troubled time on Tyneside, Robert's arrival on the South Coast will be monitored closely. The 30-year-old was yesterday fined two weeks wages by United for the second time in 24 hours, having aimed another broadside against Graeme Souness. The Magpies have also referred the matter to the Football Association and, whilst it seems unlikely that further sanctions will be taken against the player, Pompey officials are keen to ensure that their player does not continue to attract the kind of unsavoury headlines for which his final days in the North-East will be remembered. Having branded Souness childish and accused the Newcastle boss of lacking intelligence on Tuesday - for which he was fined £80,000 - Robert had a fresh blast yesterday. The French international insisted that Jermaine Jenas will quit St James's Park this summer, having grown tired of his manager's methods and revealed his own determination to exact revenge on the Scot. "My argument is with no-one other than Souness and, when I return to Newcastle with Portsmouth, the only revenge I will want is over him." That Robert was fined for the second day running came as no surprise given the impact that his initial words had within the corridors of St James's Park. "He was told not to do it and he must suffer the consequences," said Freddie Shepherd.

Taylor in new deal talks Jun 30 2005 By Miles Starforth, The Evening Chronicle Newcastle United are to open talks with rising star Steven Taylor over a new contract. The defender's new agent Paul Stretford is due at St James' Park for preliminary talks, with Taylor's present deal due to be renegotiated. A clause in the contract stated that once Taylor reached 20 appearances, his deal would be looked at by the club. And with Taylor having made the 23rd appearance of his Magpies career against Chelsea on the final day of last season, the wheels are now in motion with the defender keen to agree a new contract and chairman Freddy Shepherd ready to reward him for his first team breakthrough. Liverpool and Gerard Houllier's Lyon are among the clubs keen on Taylor, but there is no way the centre half will be allowed to leave Tyneside. Last November Taylor was thrown in out of position at right-back with Stephen Carr out through injury and the England Under-21 international never looked back, going on to play across the back four before the season was out. And he is ready to challenge Jean Alain Boumsong and Titus Bramble for a starting place in manager Graeme Souness's team. Taylor's emergence as a genuine first- team prospect meant that Souness felt comfortable in allowing experienced duo Aaron Hughes and Andy O'Brien to leave Newcastle this summer for Aston Villa and Portsmouth respectively. Souness, meanwhile, is still keen to add another experienced central defender to his squad. Earlier this summer United signed up Taylor's former Academy team-mate Peter Ramage on a new deal, with the centre-half tied to the club until 2008 following his own first-team breakthrough. Meanwhile, Newcastle United today issued a statement reiterating that Jermaine Jenas is not for sale following Laurent Robert's outspoken comments about the England international's future yesterday. The statement said: "Jermaine signed a five-year contract until 2008. The player is not for sale and the club has no reason to believe that the player is unhappy. "The club is furious over Robert's recent outbursts, which are clearly designed to be disruptive within the club. "Nevertheless, Newcastle United are also clear in their view that Jermaine is here for the long term and that Robert - still a contracted player for Newcastle United - should keep his opinions to himself." Last month, amid speculation that Arsenal and Spurs were interested in Jenas, Souness told the Chronicle: "JJ's an important member of the squad. I made him captain last year and that shows what I think of him."

Craig's Celtic chance : Striker sale speculation Sunday newspapers contained fresh claims that United and Celtic continue to seek a mutually acceptable deal to enable striker Craig Bellamy to return to the East End of Glasgow on a permanent basis. However while reports in both Scotland and Bellamy's native Wales speculate on a £5m deal with a further £1m in additional trophy -related payments, there's been nothing from United or the player - who is expected at Newcastle's first day of pre-season training on Monday. Intertoto Cup: Turkey served up with stuffing Ankaraspor 0 Dubnica 4 Newcastle scout David Mills was in Turkey on Saturday to see Slovakian side Dubnica take a decisive lead in the first leg of their Intertoto Cup second round tie against Ankaraspor. It might be a touch premature to start making travel arrangements, but a trip to Slovakia in a fortnight's time now seems inevitable. While global audiences were tuning into Live8, Dubnica were racking up a three goal lead by the interval thanks to strikes from 23 year-old midfielder Igor Držík (pictured) Pavol Kopačka and Marian Adam. And an injury time fourth from Matej Ižvolt seems to have made the second leg a formality. Dubnica are yet to concede a goal in their three Intertoto games this season to date, after following up a 0-0 draw in Budapest with a 2-0 home success over Vasas - scorers in that game being Lukas Tasak and Peter Kiska. The referee for the first leg was the man in charge of our last Premiership game, South Yorkshire's Howard Webb. The return game in Slovakia kicks off at 5.30pm local time (4.30 in UK) start next Saturday (9th July) in their Mestsky Stadium which has 3,800 seats in its 8,000 capacity. NB: That same early Saturday evening slot was used by Dubnica in their first round victory against Vasas, when 3,200 fans were in attendance. Second Round 1st leg: Deportivo La Coruna 3 FK Buducnost Podgorica 0 St.Etienne 1 Neuchâtel Xamax 1 Lokeren 1 Young Boys 4 Wolfsburg 2 Sturm Graz 2 Slovan Liberec 5 Beitar Jerusalem 1 CFR Cluj 1 Bilbao 0 SK Sigma Olomouc 1 Pogon 0 Hamburg 4 Pobeda 1 Ankaraspor 0 Dubnica 4 Slaven Koprivnica 3 FC Gloria 1922 Bistrita 2 Varteks 4 International Turku 3 AA Gent 1 Zlín 0 Sunday: Tampere United 1 Charleroi 0 Lombard FK Papa 2 Gothenburg 3 Zalgiris Vilnius 2 Dinaburg 0 RC Lens 2 Lech Poznan 1 Click here for for more Intertoto details The never-ending tour: Passports & pints Once again Keith & Toon Travel will be supporting the lads wherever they play next season. Our opening Intertoto fixture will see United travelling to Slovakia (or Turkey if Ankara can turn round a 0-4 first leg deficit). In order to assess numbers, can anyone looking to go to either Dubnica (or Ankara) on July 16th or 17th with Toon Travel please let Keith know asap, either by phone or email. 0191 237 3010 or 07801 641202 Email Keith Latest quotes: Old school boss revisits the past Graeme Souness interview published in the Sunday People: "....I don't even want to mention the names of people who've gone or want to stir up trouble. They're not worth giving the oxygen of publicity. "I accept that I used to be a confrontational manager and there are times when I look back and cringe with embarrassment at things I did and said at Rangers and Liverpool. "But people who know me would never say I'm confrontational now. I've never felt the need to slam a door to make an impact and I don't need to rant and rave to get my point across. "What I would never do is shy away from a confrontation if I felt a situation was wrong. "How are you ever going to achieve a thing in this game if you're compromised right from the start by saying one thing and doing another? "In some respects, I liken the Newcastle job to when I got the Liverpool one because those sort of big clubs don't come around unless there are problems. "There were characters in the dressing room here who needed strong management and my attitude to management is that the only thing that matters is the group. The depth of discord shocked me. I don't regard myself as an old man at 52 but I suppose I am old school. "You can't have people who decide they don't like training and just walk off the pitch. There's no way I'm going to accept that. "If somebody had done that at Liverpool when I was a player, it wouldn't have mattered who they were - you'd be told not to come back. "That's the way it was at Anfield - Tommy Smith, Emlyn Hughes, Ray Clemence and John Toshack made it clear what the standards were and how we were supposed to measure up. "Then the baton passed to myself, Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen and we tried to carry those standards on. "As a younger player, if you didn't measure up to those standards you were ostracised, simple as that. "There was only one way ... you did it our way or you f***** off. No-one ever resisted, they changed, believe me." "If somebody is constantly upsetting the group and undermining what we want to achieve, then there's only one option to take. "If you read Sir Clive Woodward's book, he puts it into perspective. "You try to change that individual, but if they're not prepared to change, they have to go, simple as that. "There is no way that a fractured dressing room with elements completely at odds with the majority is ever going to be successful. "I didn't go into St James' Park with any preconceived ideas about anybody, but the dressing room now, for the vast majority, is a much better and happier place. "Last year was a case of fire-fighting all the time. "The nature of the Newcastle job means there's a rumour every day and that meant having to deal with situations I shouldn't have had to deal with virtually ever hour of the day. "I knew before I went in there it was a difficult job so I'm not saying it got me down, but it frustrated me because the job should be about getting your best team out on the pitch come Saturday. "Instead, I was fighting potential problems with two or three individuals and that was totally unnecessary because the only thing that matters is the common cause." Souness was also quoted in the News of the World as saying: "If I last another 12 months in this job I will have done well. "I have to be strong and certainly won't turn my back on this challenge. "There is only one way I will go about it - my way. I have got to be strong and be my own man. "There have to be standards of discipline on the training filed and a code of conduct at the club." Former Mags: Leeds look to rescue Gillespie Having already signed former United youngster Ian Bennett and made an offer to Lee Clark, Leeds are once again looking to boost their squad with another former Magpie. Free agent Keith Gillespie will join Leeds for their pre-season preparations, having turned down the chance of a trial work out with Crystal Palace. Still only 30, Gillespie has appeared for Wigan, Blackburn and Leicester since leaving St.James' in 1998. Transfer watch: Souness admits double rebuff Speculation that Newcastle were looking to boost their striking options by recruiting Alan Smith of Manchester United and / or free agent Christian Vieri was dashed by Graeme Souness on Friday. Speaking to the official site, the manager confirmed that he'd made an unsuccessful approach to Old Trafford for Smith and that an intermediary had advised him that Vieri was intent on playing in Spain - now that he's been made a free agent by Inter Milan. The news came 24 hours after Souness confirmed that Skysports-led tales of interest in former mackem plank Tore Andre Flo were without substance. And while Tottenham's Robbie Keane continues to be mentioned, that too looks like a forlorn hope at present. And so the hunt goes on, with Bellamy in the doghouse and on the transfer list and Ameobi yet to begin his post hip op rehab. That leaves us with only Shearer and Chopra as recognised forwards at the club - a deeply concerning situation that casts as much of a shadow over Souness as a certain Welshman. Pre-season training: Toon quartet get an extra week off Just one more time While the majority of our players return to pre-season training on Monday, Newcastle have granted Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jermaine Jenas, Shay Given and Stephen Carr an extra week off. The gesture has been made in view of the fact that their quartet were involved in post-season international action for their countries. However it's possible that any or all of them may choose to return earlier - especially in view of the fact that the return of Craig Bellamy threatens to turn Monday into something of a media circus. No such luck though for the three England lads who played out in Toulon barely a month ago, with Steven Taylor, Darren Ambrose and James Milner all due in on Monday. They are expected to be joined by Robbie Elliott, Michael Chopra and Tony Caig, who we understand have all now agreed new one-year deals to stay at the club. Transfer watch: Back lanes and muddy pitches Fed up with airbrushed rags-to-riches football autobiographies? Then Robert Rowell's self-penned football memoir "Back Lanes and Muddy Pitches" may just be the tonic you require. As its title suggests, the book's main concern is the round ball game away from the glamour of large stadia - or even small ones. "Back Lanes" recounts an unpaid football career from Gateshead street kickabouts Gateshead via school team heroics and disasters to fleeting fame as a guesting foreign player for a team in the suburbs of Milan. The author (pictured above with his fatha) is an overseas toon-supporting exile who still gets the football Pink posted to him every week - but this is isn't a book about Newcastle United or being a spectator. We've got three copies of "Back Lanes...." to give away courtesy of Tyneside publishers Zymurgy - and to be in with a chance of acquiring one, please email your answer to the following question here with "Pitches" as your subject line. In the book, the author reveals that he's related to a Gateshead-born professional footballer & former England international, who has played for Forest, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and is now with Leeds. Who is he? Closing date is 9pm BST next Saturday, 9th July. Those choosing their own subject line instantly disqualify themselves.... Academy: Youngsters get their first date The 2005/06 Academy fixtures are now available and our U18s begin their title defence by visiting the windswept wastes of Aston Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground, on Saturday 20th August. First-choice Academy 'keeper Ben Smith Click here for Academy fixtures 2005-06 New head coach Glenn Roeder gets a chance to assess his charges in game situations before the kickoff with a number of friendlies fixed up. So far we're aware of a home game against Hartlepool on Thursday 21st July and a visit to Blyth Spartans on Friday 29th July - although no official confirmation has yet been received. We are also due to take part in the U17 section of the annual Milk Cup Tournament in Coleraine, Northern Ireland the following week, from August 1st onward. 2005/06: Unconfirmed Sky switches Mackem websites are listing their Sky live fixtures despite no official announcement from Sky being forthcoming as yet - they claim that our home game against them will now kick off at 4pm on Sunday October 23rd. No confirmation of this or any other Sky live games as yet, but with Championship fixture transmissions announced on Tuesday, ours shouldn't be long in turning up. We've been sent the following Sky dates but these are yet to be confirmed. Hopefully, the first one listed will be postponed - this is when the second leg of the Intertoto Cup final is due to be played. Tuesday 23 August 8pm Bolton v Newcastle Utd Sunday 28 August 4pm Newcastle v Man Utd Sunday 2 October 2pm Portsmouth v Newcastle Sunday 23 October 4pm Newcastle v Sunderland Monday 5 December 8pm Newcastle v Aston Villa Sunday 11 December 4pm Newcastle v Arsenal Monday 19 December 8pm West Ham v Newcastle Monday 26 December 6.30pm Liverpool v Newcastle

Boss Souness out to defy critics Souness took over from Sir Bobby Robson in September 2004 Newcastle's Graeme Souness is the bookmakers' favourite to be the first Premiership boss axed in the new season but he has vowed to defy the odds. He admitted to the News of the World newspaper: "If I last another 12 months in this job I will have done well. "I have to be strong and certainly will not turn my back on this challenge. There is only one way I will go about it - my way. "I am 52. I do not see myself being here at 62, so I have one chance." Last week Souness was criticised by French winger Laurent Robert, who has left the Magpies to join Portsmouth. Robert hit out at Souness' management style in a national newspaper and was fined by Newcastle before his departure for the south-coast club. Souness does not wish to be drawn into a war of words with his critics but told The People newspaper: "Listen, I do not even want to mention the names of people who have gone or want to stir up trouble. "They are not worth giving the oxygen of publicity. "I accept that I used to be a confrontational manager and there are times when I look back and cringe with embarrassment at things I did and said at Rangers and Liverpool. "But people who know me would never say I am confrontational now. "I have never felt the need to slam a door to make an impact and I do not need to rant and rave to get my point across. "What I would never do is shy away from a confrontation if I felt a situation was wrong." The depth of discord shocked me Newcastle boss Graeme Souness Former Blackburn boss Souness took over as manager from Sir Bobby Robson in September 2004 and was seen as the type of character who would stamp out any ill-discipline or dressing-room unrest. "There were characters in the dressing room who needed strong management and my attitude to management is that the only thing that matters is the group," continued Souness in The People. "The depth of discord shocked me. I do not regard myself as an old man at 52 but I suppose I am old school. "You cannot have people who decide they do not like training and just walk off the pitch. There is no way I am going to accept that." Souness led Newcastle to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup last season but the club only finished 14th in the Premiership and he also found himself having to deal with incidents that made back-page headlines. In April, Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were sent off for a brawl during a defeat against Aston Villa. "The whole League season blew up there and then," said Souness. "Any chance we had of success was destroyed that day. There were issues last season that I had never had to deal with before and that was a very obvious one. "I look at it now and I still cannot believe it. I was gobsmacked." During the next campaign Souness hopes that Newcastle will generate the right type of headlines and he also wants to make world-class signings. He revealed: "Next season will be determined by what standard of player we get in. There is no lucky formula in football - it is down to getting the best players in."

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