Roeder focused on UEFA Cup task

NEWCASTLE boss Glenn Roeder will not allow the soap opera of life at St James’ Park to distract him from his mission.

The 50-year-old is preparing his team for tonight’s UEFA Cup clash with Levadia Tallinn as the fallout from assistant manager Kevin Bond’s dismissal continued.

With star striker Michael Owen fighting to save his season and goalkeeper Shay Given recovering from the kind of injury usually only seen in car crashes, Roeder, who only took over at the helm during the summer, is quickly having to come to terms with what is an unique job.