Newcastle United: Newcastle

Dabizas in Car Smash

Newcastle's transfer-listed defender Nikos Dabizas has broken his arm after being involved in a car crash in the early hours of this morning.

The Greece international was celebrating after his country's European Championship qualifying win over Ukraine.

The defender, who has been transfer-listed by Newcastle United, smashed into a traffic light in Athens and broke a bone in his arm.

He is understood to have had a fault with the steering in his car.

Dabizas got out of his vehicle before it caught fire and was taken by ambulance to hospital.

Greece moved top of Group Six this week with 1-0 victories over Spain and Ukraine, with Dabizas winning his 61st cap against the latter.

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson has been told to carry on buying the best of British as the club plan a two-pronged league assault next season.

Robson's transfer policy has become apparent since he arrived at St James' Park now almost four years ago, with emphasis placed on the acquisition of home-grown talent and at a burgeoning age.

Robson has signed the likes of Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Titus Bramble, Jermaine Jenas, Andy O'Brien, Carl Cort and, most recently, Lee Bowyer during his time in charge.

The 70-year-old clearly believes signing such talent is the way ahead if Newcastle are to mount a sustained Premier League title challenge to both Manchester United and Arsenal from August, as well as continuing to make strides in the Champions League.

Striker Shola Ameobi, who will spearhead England's Under-21 attack on Tuesday in a European Championship qualifying clash with Slovakia at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, reckons Robson has struck gold and will hopefully continue to do so.

"There's been a lot of fuss made about foreign players in the Premier League, but it helps my own development that the majority of Newcastle signings are now British," said Ameobi.

Greek international Nikos Dabizas is among five players who have been placed on the transfer list by Newcastle.

Dabizas is joined by Clarence Acuna, Robbie Elliott, Jamie McClen and Wayne Quinn as players told by manager Sir Bobby Robson they can leave St James' Park.

Dabizas cost �2million from Greek side Olympiakos in 1998 and has made 165 appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals.

But he has seen his chances limited since the arrival of Jonathan Woodgate from Leeds for �9million during the January transfer window.

Newcastle-born defender Elliott started at St James' as a trainee and was sold to Bolton for �2.5million in 1997 before returning to his hometown club on a free transfer in 2001.

Chilean international midfielder Acuna, signed for �1million from Universidad de Chile in 2002, has made 60 appearances, scoring seven times.

Midfielder McClen, another product of the Magpies' youth academy, spent the 2000-01 season on loan at Motherwell and has played just once for the first team this season in the 4-0 home win over West Ham in August.

Defender Quinn cost the Magpies �800,000 from Sheffield United in 2001 after being on loan at St James' Park but has been back at Bramall Lane on loan this season.

Elliott is a useful player. I'm glad Acuna is going, stayed at the club and refused to leaved, bit like Marcellino (?) another waste of money.

What i like is the fact that Bobby Robson has bought talented english players and is building up a great squad..

Newcastle weighing up a �3million bid for Charlton's wantaway defender Paul Konchesky.

Toon boss Sir Bobby Robson made an enquiry about the 22-year-old in January and was quoted �5m by the Addicks.

But with the transfer market now in meltdown, Newcastle believe they can land the youngster for significantly less, despite his new status as a full England international.

A St James' Park insider said: "Now that Robbie Elliott has been transfer listed, Olivier Bernard is our only senior left-back at the club and the gaffer wants another option in that position.

"Konchesky fits the bill. He's the right age and we believe we can get him for the right price."

Konchesky is now officially on the transfer list at The Valley after confirming his desire to move on in a bid to clinch a place in England's Euro 2004 squad.

Konchesky is rubbish! Newcastle should go in for Wayne Bridge, now that is a good leftback.

I think Newcastle will challange for the title this year, still think Man Utd will win but I can see Newcastle punishing alot of teams.

Newcastle United are quietly making plans to lure Barcelona's Dutch international striker Patrick Kluivert to Tyneside. Kluivert has a release clause in his contract if a wage rise isn't implemented next season....

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne asked Bobby Robson to sign him for Newcastle.

Gazza played for his hometown club between 1984 and 1988, and is convinced he can still perform at the level required in the Premiership at the age of 36.

He suggested as much to Newcastle manager Robson, and told The Sun: "I really meant it. I would have loved to play for them again.

"I get on great with Bobby and I would have loved to play for Newcastle again.

"Yet you could see he was looking to sign some big, younger names and get the team challenging for the title.

"I think he thought I was still daft as a brush when I said it. But I really meant it.

Jonathan Woodgate could deliver a blow to Newcastle's pre-season preparations by missing the club's Asia Cup trip to Malaysia through injury.

The �9m England defender picked up a thigh strain during training and could miss the visit to the Far East.

With United flying off on Saturday, Woodgate has 48 hours to prove his fitness to manager Sir Bobby Robson.

But despite Woodgate's key role in his side, Robson will take no chances on him ahead of the forthcoming Premiership and Champions League campaign.

Robson also knows that Andy O'Brien is fit again after nose surgery and ready to fill in for Woodgate if necessary in Malaysia.

With Steve Caldwell having signed a new contract at St James' Park, transfer-listed Nikos Dabizas still around and Titus Bramble available, United do have significant cover in Woodgate's position.

But the loss of their undoubted best defender would still be a major disappointment ahead of what promises to be a competitive pre-season tournament.

Newcastle United have been given first option on Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert next season, according to sources in Spain.

The Magpies lodged their interest in the 27-year-old Dutchman earlier this summer as talks broke down over the negotiation of his contract at the Nou Camp.

Kluivert is expected to confirm within 48 hours that he will be staying at Barca after being linked with Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea in recent weeks.

But Robson's former club are said to have agreed to keep Newcastle informed of the player's situation during the final year of his contract.

The United boss is a big admirer of the former Ajax and AC Milan hitman, who was given a rapturous ovation by the St James' faithful when he was substituted during his side's 2-0 Champions League victory on Tyneside on 19 March.

Skipper Alan Shearer has 12 months left on his existing deal although he has not ruled out an extension.

Shearer will be 33 in August and with serious injuries having taken their toll he could be looking towards retirement at the end of next season.

United initially played down talk that they had inquired about Kluivert's availability amid speculation that he could be available for as little as �1.6m.

But it later emerged that United had asked to be kept informed of developments.

Robson currently has Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Shola Ameobi, Lomana LuaLua, Carl Cort and Michael Chopra among his strikers and is maintaining an interest in Leeds' Michael Bridges.

Newcastle have slapped a �25million price tag on England midfielder Kieron Dyer amid speculation that Chelsea and Manchester United are ready to test the water.

Newcastle's clash with Chelsea in the final of the FA Premier League Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night is threatened to be overshadowed by events off the field and far away.

Eyes of the Newcastle fans have become firmly set on events in America after chairman Freddy Shepherd, who on Wednesday stated that not even Chelsea had "enough roubles to buy Kieron Dyer", flew off to the United States.

His departure from the team's base in Kuala Lumpur has fanned speculation that Manchester United may have met the "ridiculous" bid Shepherd stated it would take to prize the England midfielder away from St James' Park.

Dyer stated on Thursday that Shepherd's pronouncements he was not for sale were "good enough for me", but the can of worms has seemingly been reopened.

Add the Newcastle saga to the on-going soap opera at Chelsea, who are linked to a new player virtually every day, and the Asia Cup may struggle for attention.

Both managers insisted the match will have no bearing at all on the fortunes of either side during the season and will provide no psychological edge to the winners heading into the two Premiership meetings.

However, the match does hold a certain morbid significance for Alan Shearer following a freakish ankle injury sustained at Goodison Park in the 1997 Umbro Cup against Chelsea.

That was the last time Shearer played Chelsea in a pre-season friendly.

Snapped cruciate ligaments and a broken bone in his ankle kept the then England captain out for five months and threatened his dreams of leading his country into the 1998 World Cup.

It remains a painful memory for Shearer, who underwent four hours of X-rays immediately after the incident and required surgery on the ankle.

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has assured Alan Shearer that his future remains at St James' Park and that the club wish to discuss a new deal.

The Magpies striker is out of contract in 12 months time and the club have yet to speak with his agents about a new contract on Tyneside.

It has even been reported that Shearer fears for his future, though Shepherd has moved to assure him that he will not be allowed to leave the club.

Shepherd said: "Alan Shearer is going nowhere. We would be mad to allow a player who has scored 25 goals last season to walk away for nothing.

"Alan Shearer has black-and-white blood running through his veins. If he wants to sit down and talk about a new contract, then we do too. And we won't wait."

Shepherd has hinted that the club are prepared to extend the 33-year-old's current deal by a further season - tying him to the club until 2005.

Shearer will probably settle for the same �35,000-a-week wage that he currently enjoys as he looks to cash in on his twilight years in the game.

Livingston chairman Dominic Keane has confirmed the signing of Newcastle midfielder Brian Kerr on a six-month loan deal.

Sir Bobby Robson gave permission for the 21-year-old to join the West Lothian side and Livi were quick to complete the deal.

Derby County have signed Newcastle United's Gary Caldwell on a two-month loan.

Scottish Under-21 international Caldwell came through the youth system at Newcastle before spending loan spells at Darlington, Hibernian and Coventry City.

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson has no fresh injury concerns as he prepares for Sunday's Barclaycard Premiership opener at Leeds.

Hugo Viana is recovering from a back spasm and is not included in the squad, while Darren Ambrose is back in training after suffering from shin splints but is short of match fitness.

Former Leeds players Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate are in the squad with the former set to make his Premiership debut for the club he joined during the summer.

Team (from): Given, Harper, Hughes, Griffin, Bernard, Woodgate, O'Brien, Bramble, Dyer, Speed, Robert, Solano, Bowyer, Jenas, Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi, LuaLua.

Former England captain Alan Shearer has dismissed a report linking him to Liverpool and Tottenham and expressed his wish to sign a new contract with Newcastle

The Magpies striker's current deal runs out at the end of the season but Shearer is looking no further than staying with the St James' Park club.

Newcastle striker Lomana LuaLua is considering his future at St James' Park.

The 22-year-old, a �2.25million signing from Colchester three years ago, does not rate his chances of breaking into Sir Bobby Robson's plans.

He is up against Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Carl Cort and Shola Ameobi for a staring place.

Newcastle have been knocked out of the Champions League after they lost 4-3 on penalties to Partizan Belgrade following a 1-0 loss on the night.

The result will be a bitter disappointment for the Magpies, who must have been confident of securing their place in the competition after Nolberto Solano's goal in the first leg handed them a goal advantage going into the St James' Park return.

However, penalty shoot-out misses by Alan Shearer, Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate and Aaron Hughes cost Newcastle dear as Lothar Matthaus' side collected an unlikely victory that leaves the Magpies with the consolation prize of UEFA Cup football.