Robert pencils in European return

Newcastle winger Laurent Robert is hopeful of claiming a place on the bench for the crucial Champions League clash with Bosnian side Zeljeznicar on Wednesday.

The former Paris St Germain star has not featured so far this season because of a back injury but is confident he is well ahead of the initial prognosis for recovery.

The £9.5m (€14.9m) Frenchman has targeted a place on the bench for the third qualifying round clash, with the Magpies one goal to the good from the first leg in Bosnia and just 90 minutes from a potential £15m (€23.5m) payout for reaching the Champions League group stages.

United boss Bobby Robson admitted a fortnight ago he expected to be without the player for six weeks after he suffered a stress fracture in one of his vertebrae.

But Robert today told Newcastle’s official website www.nufc.co.uk: “My injury is fine now, I’m training and I feel okay.

“I have recovered well and never thought I would be out as long as the medical people first thought.

“I hope the manager will maybe put me on the bench on Wednesday night, and then it would be good if I could play for half an hour.

“That game is a big match for Newcastle, and it will also be big for me if I am allowed to play.

“We need to play in the Champions League, and all of the team know how important the match is. We all want to play in Europe against the best players in the world.

“After the European match at St James’ Park we play Liverpool and I would like to think I may be able to play in that match from the start. That is what I am aiming for.”