Magpies set to blood Woodgate

JONATHAN WOODGATE is ready to be thrown into the firing line as Newcastle attempt to put pressure on the Premiership’s top two at home to Chelsea today.

The £9m signing, prevented from making his bow on familiar territory at Leeds last week because of a clause in the deal which took him to St James' Park, seems certain to be handed his first start in a game which could take Bobby Robson's men seven points clear of one of their closest rivals.

A win would also put them level with second-placed Manchester United, who play Liverpool in the Worthington Cup final on Sunday, and Robson is ready to wheel out his strongest possible side in a bid to close the gap.

"Jonathan Woodgate is ready to play, without doubt, mentally and physically," Robson said. "Everything is right.

"He's worked hard. We've worked him quite strenuously to improve his fitness once we knew his muscle injury had repaired itself," he said.

"I've spoken to the boy several times almost every day this week about his thoughts, and he's got a good head on him, and he's ready. The team is picked in my head and we'll just go with it.

"You only have to look at our home record and you can't crib about our defence. It's mean but away from home from time to time, we have just looked vulnerable.

"That's why we decided to bring in one other top-class centre-half, the best available, and we managed to do that.

Robson rested Andy O'Brien and Aaron Hughes for Wednesday night's Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen, and the fight is well and truly on to partner the new boy.

But whatever happens alongside him, full-back Andy Griffin will hope to retain his place in the starting line-up after returning from an elbow injury to figure in the 3-0 win at Leeds last Saturday and the 3-1 Champions League defeat of Bayer Leverkusen.

Another victory United are unbeaten in eight in all competitions and have lost just one Premiership game in 13 would increase the gap on rivals Chelsea to seven points with just 10 games to play to put them in prime position for a top-four finish.

Griffin said: "If we win tomorrow and hopefully go to Middlesbrough on Wednesday night and win, then it's only in our own hands that Chelsea can catch us."

Competition for places, especially at the back, is the hottest it has been in years at St James' Park with Griffin, Aaron Hughes, Olivier Bernard, Robbie Elliott, Woodgate, Titus Bramble, Andy O'Brien, Steve Caldwell and Nikos Dabizas all fighting for starting berths. And while that will leave several of them disappointed, Griffin insists it can only be good for the club.