Soccer: Robson wants to prove 20 points against United

NEWCASTLE boss Bobby Robson cannot believe his side are trailing Manchester United by 20 points as they prepare for their televised trip to Old Trafford tomorrow.

The Magpies were confident they had closed the gap on the eventual champions last season when they mounted a genuine challenge for the Premiership title until the day Alex Ferguson’s men arrived at St James’ Park and crushed their hopes with a stunning 6-2 victory.

“They’re 20 points ahead of us, which I wouldn’t have thought would have happened at the beginning of the season by this time, I really didn’t.

“I thought they’d be in front, but just a few points between us, but 20 is a mammoth amount, really, 20 points is a big whack. It’s a big difference," admitted Robson.

The Magpies’ boss needs no introduction to Ruud van Nistelrooy, who goes into the game having scored 98 times for his latest club.

The 70-year-old worked with the then teenage striker during his time at PSV Eindhoven, and would dearly have loved to bring him to Tyneside.

“He’s a player I would have loved to have brought here, but he was big money, of course,” he said. “He’s a sensational player. He’s good on the deck and he can turn and he can work the ball.

“He can score great individual goals as well as team goals. That’s why he’s such a danger.

“But Jonathan Woodgate is on form and it will be a good test for him.”

If Newcastle are to return with something to show for their efforts, they will also need a big performance from keeper Shay Given, who has revealed that he, like skipper Alan Shearer, once turned down an approach from United.

“When I was a 16-year-old, I came across from Ireland at the invitation of Alex Ferguson,” said Given, who will make his 200th Premiership appearance for the Magpies at Old Trafford. “I got first-class treatment, but I picked up an injury and I went home to Ireland.

“They wanted me back, but to tell the truth, my hero Peter Schmeichel was the Manchester United keeper at the time and I could see him being number one choice for a lot of years which, of course, he was.

“I was young at the time and listened a lot to my father. He advised me to go to Celtic and that’s what I did. But I cannot complain at the way things have turned out for me.”

Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson has delivered a stinging rebuke to the snipers taking aim at Robson and claimed Newcastle are lucky to have the former England boss.

“When they needed someone with experience to go in and stabilise the club he did it and now, like myself, he is building a structure for the future,” he said.

“If you look at the likes of Jermaine Jenas, Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble and Jonathan Woodgate you see the elements of a Newcastle team for years ahead.”

Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes have been named Barclaycard manager and player of the month for December.