NEWCASTLE UNITED chairman Freddy Shepherd has hit back at criticism of the decision which saw Newcastle play two games in 40 hours.

Striker Alan Shearer labelled it "ridiculous" to play a televised clash at Wolves on Saturday lunchtime after Thursday's UEFA Cup match at home to FC Basel.

Manager Sir Bobby Robson also hit out at the decision to take £650,000 TV cash rather than put the game back to allow his players more rest.

Robson admitted after the game: "We did it for the club. It's asking too much of the players. If you drop points then the club has to understand that."

But Shepherd said: "We have the fourth biggest wage bill in the Premiership and the money has to be found from somewhere.

"That's why Newcastle United explore every avenue so that we can compete with the best teams in Europe.

"Our players are on high wages even though we are outside London and we are happy to maintain this.

"But if our players feel that they should not have played two games in three days, then they should look no further than Real Madrid.

"The Real Madrid vice-president, Emilio Butragueno, told me only this week that they played 68 games last season.

"He also said they are making two tours at the end of next season to Asia and the US.

"The Real Madrid players aren't asked if they want to go on these tours, they are just told they are going, it's as simple as that."

Meanwhile, Robson has heaped praise on Aaron Hughes after the full-back returned to his best form at Wolves.

Hughes had been under the spotlight after a number of below-par performances culminating in the 5-0 debacle at Chelsea last month.

But he has fought his way back in recent games, and Robson singled him out after Saturday's draw at Molineux.

"I thought Aaron Hughes was the man of the match on Saturday," said Robson.

"He's defended well over recent games, he's covered well for the centre-backs and he's jumping and heading balls all over the place.

"When the centre-backs have needed support he's been there, and he deserved all the plaudits for his performance on Saturday.

* Newcastle received a European boost yesterday when they were told they would be seeded in the draw for the UEFA Cup third round.

The eight sides which enter the competition following elimination from the Champions League are likely to make up eight of the 16 seeds.

But Newcastle, along with the likes of Liverpool, Barcelona, Parma and Roma, will definitely be included in that group and therefore avoid the biggest teams for the draw on December 12.

* Millwall boss Dennis Wise is targeting Newcastle United £7m striker Carl Cort as the man to solve the Lions' goalscoring problems.

Misfit Cort, who is also being tracked by Wolves and Southampton, has played just four minutes of Premiership football since April 2002, and Wise said yesterday: "We're looking to bring him in."

However, Cort's agent Jonathan Barnett believed the move unlikely saying: "He has not been playing for Newcastle, but I have been given no indication that Newcastle are willing to let him go."

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