NEWCASTLE manager Sir Bobby Robson is resigned to failure in his attempt to prise Jonathan Woodgate away from Leeds - despite the shock collapse of Robbie Fowler's £7m Elland Road exit to Manchester City.

Robson hinted yesterday that England centre-back Woodgate, the subject of a £9m bid, is out of his price range.

To complicate matters further, Middlesbrough-born Woodgate has suffered a thigh injury in training and is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

That makes the prospect of a deal even less likely before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Debt-ridden Leeds are desperate to sell after Fowler performed an astonishing 11th-hour U-turn to stun City manager Kevin Keegan.

The former Newcastle boss, who is back at St James' Park with City this afternoon, fully expected to have Fowler in his line-up.

But the England striker had a dramatic change of heart amid suggestions of boardroom differences at Maine Road over the wisdom of the deal.

Fourth-placed Newcastle, chasing their tenth consecutive Premiership home win, refuse to be deflected by the furore surrounding the Fowler affair.

Robson won't give up on his search for a defender, but admits to being frustrated. He said: "We are not idling, but the ones we like are either not available or else they command silly money and that kills it.

"What if a club says a player is not for sale? What if a club says you can have him, but he'll cost £15m? What do you do then?"

Robson added: "We are working and waiting for something to break. Our priorities don't lie with a player like Robbie Fowler. We have strikers and I'm not asking to spend money in that direction."

Robson reacted with incredulity to Fowler's decision to snub Keegan.

But the Magpies' boss isn't sorry that Fowler won't figure today. "I can't believe it," he said. "I know how keen Kevin was to have Fowler in his side.

"I think he moved heaven and earth to sign him to help get a result against us.

"That was Keegan's aim and I understand that. It's a shock all right and I imagine Kevin is stunned by it all, just as I am.

"But transfers are never completed until the player signs on the dotted line, and City are still a dangerous side. They will put the whole episode behind them. I've told my players that it's not about what anybody else does, it's about ourselves."

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped Newcastle as dark horses for the title, but Robson remains unconvinced about his side's credentials.

"He saw us finish fourth last season, and seen that we have brought in three very good young players in Jermaine Jenas, Hugo Viana and Titus Bramble. We have improved things, there's no doubt about that.

"It's nice of Alex to say what he has, but I still say we are not quite where those big three clubs (Arsenal, Man. United and Liverpool) are, even though Liverpool have fallen away a bit. We are trying, but just like climbing Everest, it's the last bit that's the most difficult.

"We have done well at home and won ten out of 11 League games - and we should have beaten Leeds as well. Forget the fact we lost at Wolves in the FA Cup - that's history.

"We now have two home games over the next five days and if we win them both we'll be in a great position. It would be a great incentive for us for the rest of the season.

"If we finish fourth we would have had a remarkable season. If we finish third it would be sensational."

Winger Nolberto Solano, axed for last week's 2-2 draw at West Ham after his lacklustre display against Wolves, is set to win a recall today.

Robson said: "Teams are scared of us at St James' Park and we always seem to come out on top by the odd goal. Why should I change that? I'll play with wingers at home, but I won't use two wingers away until we get better.''

Solano, who scored the only goal in last season's FA Cup fifth-round win over Keegan's City on Tyneside, is desperate to serve up a repeat.

"I was angry with the way I played at Wolves,'' admitted Solano. "I wanted to do well, but I didn't.

"I hope to get the chance to show the manager and the team that I am back to my best. I scored against City last season and I hope to score again.

"This is a massive game for us and we must keep picking up points at home if we aim to make the Champions League."

Meanwhile, Newcastle's Scotland defender Steve Caldwell, out of contract at the end of the season and still without the offer of a new deal, will make way for Andy O'Brien if the Republic of Ireland international shrugs off a back injury.

Caldwell said: "I've been in a worse position at this club. I'm not expecting anything at the moment.

"If the club wants me to stay, I'll be delighted, but I'm 22 and I don't want to spend my time in the reserves.

"I want to be playing for my country and I won't be doing that if I'm in the reserves."

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