KIERON DYER'S wish to see Jonathan Woodgate join Newcastle United is likely to be granted in the next week.

Dyer revealed last night that he has been in regular contact with England teammate Woodgate, urging the defender to swap Elland Road for St James' Park.

And Newcastle were understood to be putting the finishing touches to a £10m bid for Woodgate yesterday, with a £7m payment up front.

Woodgate, who will be out until late next month with a thigh injury, is understood to be keen to join the Champions League contenders before the transfer window closes at the end of January.

With Newcastle's senior officials back in England after their aborted attempt to sign Brazil World Cup winner Kleberson, Middlesbrough-born Woodgate's return to the North-East appears to be imminent.

And two years after Woodgate was imploring Dyer to join Leeds, the Newcastle midfielder is telling the centre-back to head up the A1.

Dyer said: "Jonathan Woodgate is a great friend of mind and I've been on the phone to him all the time, telling him to come.

"It's funny because two years ago, when there was a lot about Leeds being after me, I had him and Rio Ferdinand on the phone to me saying I should join them.

"Now it's me saying he should join a Champions League club. It's good how the roles are reversed.

"Of course I'm glad I didn't go. We're probably the youngest squad in the Premiership and Woody would take us up another level.

"He's a massive player, an England international, and he seems to be Leeds' man of the match almost every week.

"It just goes to show what a quality player he is and he'd be a welcome addition to the squad.

"The formula at this club is to buy the best young players who are nowhere near their peak yet, and that will keep it good for the future here."

Dyer insists Newcastle, who trail Premiership leaders Arsenal by seven points, can still win the League - despite Sir Bobby Robson's proclamations to the contrary.

The Magpies are still to host the Gunners plus second-placed Manchester United, and the former Ipswich Town midfielder is adamant they are genuine title contenders.

Dyer said: "The gaffer always keeps us down but amongst ourselves we're very confident we can challenge for the League.

"Arsenal are on a great run but I think teams are scared of us now. Last season, when we battered a lot of teams, they came to St James' and they tried to go away with three points.

"This season, they've come for a point, and that's why we haven't been scoring four or five goals, but we're still winning 1-0 and 2-0."

Dyer reckons he is approaching his peak at the optimum time as Newcastle step up their Premiership challenge and prepare for the resumption of the Champions League.

Having been bedeviled by injury for so much of his Magpies career, 24-year-old Dyer is showing the benefits of a long run free from fitness problems.

He said: "The way I played against Bolton was as good as I've played this season.

"You have to take into consideration that last season I was out for 10 months. I only played 12 games and a lot of that was down to adrenaline.

"I was playing a lot of games at the start of this season but I wasn't consistent, and I think that was down to the injuries.

"Now I've got a run of games and the gaffer's wrapping me up in cotton wool, and it's showing that I'm hitting my best form at the right time.

"I'm just thankful we've got a big squad, which enables me to be wrapped in cotton wool.

"Last season, and certainly the first season I came here, that was not the case. I was playing with major injuries."

* Peter Schmeichel is putting down roots in the north west as he believes Manchester City are on the rise. The 39-year-old goalkeeper is hoping to be back in action next week after missing the defeat at Newcastle with a slight thigh injury.

''There are two reasons why I came to City. I wanted to play for Kevin Keegan and we wanted to move back into the area,'' he said.

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