From The Chron: Bobby Robson's defensive problems have taken a dramatic upward turn as Newcastle United head towards Monday's demolition derby with Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Coach Mick Wadsworth confirmed today that Alain Goma and Marcelino are both now fit and ready to play while Andy Griffin "has a chance" of making the first derby of the season.

Scottish winger Stephen Glass is also back in contention after a lengthy lay-off with a calf strain.

"Marcelino is having the pot off his finger today and it'll be replaced with a splint," Wadsworth told me. "He'll be able to play with that on.

"Goma is OK as well - his problem was a broken nose so, like Marcelino, he has been able to do all the fitness work. And Griffin has a chance of making it with the game not until Monday."

Goma smashed his nose in the opening minute against Charlton, missing two matches, while Marcelino hasn't played since damaging the ligaments of a finger on August 26.

Glass has missed six league and cup matches after coming off at half-time against Coventry last month.

Griffin, of course, was injured and subbed in United's last match, a 1-0 victory at Manchester City.

Disillusioned

Midfielder Cristian Bassedas is in the frame after a comeback game in the reserves but, like Glass and Marcelino, a lack of match sharpness is his main problem.

"Warren Barton won't make it against Boro but he's pretty close to fitness as well," said Wadsworth. That leaves Carl Cort and Nicos Dabizas as United's long-term problems.

Nobby Solano returned to training with United today, disillusioned after being subbed for a poor first-half display at left-back against Bolivia and stripped of the Peru captaincy. With Peru's World Cup hopes in tatters, Solano will almost certainly quit on his long distance trips to South America.

Down at the Riverside, Gary Pallister is ready to ease Boro's defensive problems by returning against Newcastle.

"The groin injury is behind me and as long as there's no reaction I hope to be ready for Newcastle," said the ex-England stopper. "I know what North East derbies mean."

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2000

Answers

Derby? Does anyone else think of us and the Monsters of Smog as 'derby' game contenders?

Do any other pair of clubs some 28 miles apart call their games 'derbies'?

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2000

...."the groin injury is behind me.........

Bloddy hell Gav the lasses will be queing up for Pally if this is correct.

Remind me again who had the question about sitting on ones own testicles?

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2000