Newcastle injury crisis ahead of Marseille tie

NEWCASTLE boss Bobby Robson remains in defiant mood ahead of tonight’s visit of Marseille – despite an injury crisis that threatens to derail his side’s bid for UEFA Cup glory.

The 71-year-old, who won the trophy with Ipswich 23 years ago, will spend the run-up to the game anxiously waiting for news of his battle-weary troops amid the fall-out of Sunday’s battling, but ultimately costly, 0-0 Barclaycard Premiership draw at Aston Villa.

Hamstring victims Craig Bellamy and Kieron Dyer, as well as Jermaine Jenas who tore a thigh muscle at Villa Park, have little chance of playing, while Lee Bowyer, who turned in perhaps his best performance to date in a black and white shirt as a substitute in the same game, has been nursing a sore hamstring ever since.