SIR BOBBY ROBSON is determined to make Newcastle United a lasting feature on the landscape of European football.

The Magpies, third in the Premiership, are on course to qualify for the Champions League for successive seasons after reaching the last 16 this term in thrilling fashion.

And 70-year-old Robson wants the pattern to be repeated each year.

''We've put Newcastle back on the European football map,'' said Robson.

''We're a lot better-known because of our European games - those gamesare flashed all over.

''When people sit at home on a Wednesday night and see the highlights of all the European games, they're doing exactly the same in Spain, Greece, Germany, Belgium and Holland, and Newcastle are on the screen.

"We want that to be happening every season.''

Robson is confident that his side, five points behind leaders Arsenal and three in arrears of Manchester United, can keep up the pressure in the title race.

But their main aim is to ensure they maintain a comfortable distance between themselves and fifth place - currently occupied by Liverpool, who are nine points behind - in the chase for Champions League places.

Robson said: ''We have some tough games - Everton, in particular, away and we have Manchester United here.

"But with the squad we've got and everybody fit, we shouldn't drop too many points.

"We'll kick ourselves if we do. We know what the squad is like; nobody wants to be out of the side.

"We have this cushion and we don't want it to decrease. We have to keep our noses in front of those below us and not let anybody catch us.''

* Newcastle are to request a personal hearing for errant striker Craig Bellamy to answer a charge of using abusive and insulting language to referee Andy D'Urso at the end of the 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough three weeks ago.

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