ROBINSON UNSURE OF TOON FUTURE

Newcastle striker Paul Robinson is seeking urgent contract talk with Bobby Robson after the arrival of Carl Cort and Daniel Cordone at St James's Park. The 21-year-old hitman fears that he will slip further down the pecking order of forwards once the new Premiership campaign kicks off.

The player, signed by former boss Kenny Dalglish, said: "I just want to go out and play my game. I hope I get another chance but I've just got to see what happens. If I've not got a hope then I'll have to look at going elsewhere.

"I got some experience under my belt last season and I'm desperate for more. I'm quite prepared to stop and fight for my place if the gaffer thinks I can make it at Newcastle. But without doubt what I need is first-team football and I've got to think of my career as I'll be 22 years old before long.

"I was pleased with how I did in my last game against Leicester City but I was injured in the reserves just three days later, which was very frustrating after my previous injury."

That hamstring injury was another chapter in a catalogue for the young striker, who was signed for #250,000 from Darlington in 1998. Last season Robinson made two Premiership starts and a further nine appearances as a substitute.

His last start came in Ruud Gullit's final game in charge - the derby defeat against rivals Sunderland at a rain-soaked St James's Park. Robinson went on numerous occasions, scoring once, before enduring a long winter lay-off after suffering damage to the medial ligaments in his right knee.

Birmingham and Sheffield United have kept tabs on the player.

Do you reckon Bobby will hang on to him?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Answers

not if we can get a decent fee for him. Shearer, Ferguson, Cort, Cordone, Gallagher should do for the first team/ reserves and players like Chopra and Ameobi should make forays into the reserves every now and then to bring them on.

Also depends on what happens with Kets, Maric and Coppy.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

I think Robson will assure him that he will get a few games then sell him as soon as a million bid comes in from Either Man City or Birmingham. The same goes for Drunken ferguson, but I can't see us getting more than #3 for him. How many teams can afford his wages?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

The Journal today reckoned Bryan Robson is seriously interested in 'Yin but is concerned over his fitness - real mental gymnast this blerk!
With the failure of the deal for Sutton he must now be getting desperate to sign a striker, and could be panicked into making a concrete offer. However, with the stadium extension almost complete I'm not sure how much concrete we'll still be able to use - boom, boom!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

I'd settle for about a cubic foot of concrete. Just enough to make it hard for Maric to float!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000