Milner reaps rewards of hard work for Geordies

Newcastle midfielder James Milner is reaping the rewards of his dedication off the pitch.

The 21-year-old has scored in each of his last four games at St James’ Park, all stunning strikes, and would dearly love to extend that sequence as high-flying Liverpool visit Tyneside in the Barclays Premiership tomorrow.

Milner opened his season’s account with a ’missile’ against leaders Manchester United on New Year’s Day and has been on target since against Birmingham, West Ham and former club Aston Villa – although only the last of those fixtures brought his side three points.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder, who has started the England Under-21s international in each of his club’s last 18 games, reports Milner’s recent run of goals in richly deserved.

He said: “I am very pleased, and he is entitled to be very pleased with himself. He works so hard.I worked at West Ham with Frank Lampard, and you know where he has gone on the world stage now.

“I never, ever remember Frank going in at the end of the main session – he always did at least 20 minutes’ extra practice. Often it would be finishing, so when Frank knocks in 20-plus a season that’s not luck; that’s through sheer hard work.

“James does the same. He works hard after the main session, mainly on his finishing, and it was just a mystery to us that it took him 31 games to get his first goal against Manchester United. Since that one went in, another three have gone in – and they have all been crackers.”

Newcastle turned in a sub-standard display at Fulham last week to go down 2-1, with Obafemi Martins’ 11 goal of the season at the death serving as little consolation.

Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 victory against the Magpies at Anfield in the corresponding fixture in September thanks to goals from Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso, from outrageous distance past stand-in goalkeeper Steve Harper.

Alonso took no part in Spain’s 1-0 win over England in midweek, while Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was used for only 45 minutes.

Newcastle counterpart Scott Parker spent the whole game on the bench in stark contrast to Kieron Dyer, who played the full 90 minutes on his return to the international stage.

Roeder will once again be without Shay Given as he continues his recover from a groin injury, giving Harper another chance to make amends for his slip on Merseyside – while full-back Stephen Carr could be sidelined for a month by a thigh problem picked up on Republic of Ireland duty this week.

United States international Oguchi Onyewu will hope for a home debut, after making his bow at Craven Cottage.