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February 24, 2003
(Monday)
Robson looks
forward to a start for Woodgate
Sir Bobby Robson is
relishing the opportunity of adding Jonathan
Woodgate to his title-challenging team, despite Saturday's fourth
Premiership win in five at Elland Road.
The former Leeds favourite was not there to see his new side destroy
Terry Venables' men and pile the pressure on top-three rivals
Manchester United.
However, Woodgate took in the TV highlights as Newcastle's back four
turned in another impeccable performance on their way to a fourth
clean sheet in five league games. And the England international
accepts he is far from guaranteed an eagerly-awaited home debut
against Chelsea on Saturday.
"I'm looking forward to putting him in the side," admitted Robson as
he revealed Woodgate is 100pc fit for the first time since completing
his January transfer to Tyneside.
"But if I put him in on Saturday then I have to be sure he's ready
because our public will be very expectant and Jonathan will want to
be at his best.
"Chelsea aren't a bad side so I will only consider him if he's in a
position where he can do himself justice. He has to be mentally and
physically right because he doesn't want to start his Newcastle
career with a disaster.
"When he does play, we have to be sure that he has everything under
control."
Robson must have felt the decision to leave Woodgate in the North-
East was the right policy as his side humiliated a Leeds team
stripped of their prize assets.
Chants of `sack the board' rang around Elland Road with increasing
regularity and the presence of the club's former captain would only
have served to ignite an already inflamed situation.
"I'm sure Jonathan has mixed feelings about our win, because he loved
Leeds," added Robson. "They gave him his chance and developed him and
two weeks before he signed for Newcastle I think he would have told
everyone that he intended to stay there.
"He hoped Leeds would get it right but they needed the money and he
had to be sold."
Meanwhile, Jermaine Jenas will discover the true extent of his ankle
injury later today, with the England international facing four weeks
on the sidelines.
The £5m midfielder tweaked ligaments in training on Friday and was
pulled out of Saturday's trip to Elland Road as a precaution.
Jenas will have a scan today and Robson explained: "If that shows a
tear, then JJ could be out for two, three or even four weeks.
"It's bad news for us and even worse news for him. He's doubled his
value this season and would be a big miss."
However, Jenas's absence could coincide with the return of Hugo Viana
with the European young player of the year pencilled in for a return
against Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Robson is hoping to arrange a behind-closed-doors practice match for
the highly-rated midfielder, and Woodgate, later today before making
a decision on Viana's possible comeback.
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Woodgate makes his Toon debut
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Woody
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