NEWCASTLE United new boy Jermaine Jenas will pull on Robert Lee's No 7 shirt after the former England midfielder swapped a title assault for a relegation battle at Derby County.

Lee yesterday ended nearly ten years with United when he quickly followed former teammate Warren Barton to Pride Park.

Barton became John Gregory's first signing as Derby boss on Friday in a £250,000 deal and Lee has headed in the same direction for a similar fee, which will double if he helps to keep the Rams in the Premiership. The shirt tale doesn't end there.

England Under-19 skipper Jenas wasn't allocated a squad number when he joined the Geordies from Nottingham Forest this week in a £5m deal.

And Lee was only given his old number back when Bobby Robson succeeded Ruud Gullit as manager two seasons ago after the Dutchman had ditched the experienced schemer from his first-team squad. Lee could have waited to join boyhood idols West Ham on a Bosman free at the end of the season.

But after agreeing terms and passing a medical, he is in line to make his Derby debut tomorrow when fellow strugglers Sunderland travel to the East Midlands.

Lee had a transfer request turned down in October after Newcastle refused to open talks over a new contract, and the arrival of Jenas convinced him he had no future on Tyneside.

Kevin Keegan signed Lee from Charlton for £700,000 in September 1992, and he played a key role in helping United into the Premier League in his first season with the club.

The midfield stalwart went on to play 381 times for United, scoring 56 goals. This season he has played 16 times in the Premiership, scoring in the memorable 4-3 home triumph over Manchester United. At the start of the season, Lee was rewarded with a testimonial game against Athletic Bilbao.

He went on to make his 300th League appearance for the Magpies in the win at Ipswich on December 9 and set a club record 23 appearances for United in the League Cup at Chelsea three days later.

It seems Robson has no plans to raid the kitty, despite raking in £500,000 through the sales of "blue-chip'' players Barton and Lee.

The Newcastle boss has been linked with an interest in Galatasaray's Turkish international midfielder Hakan Unsal, as have Aston Villa.

Galatasaray spokesman Ozer Saracoglu said: "There are proposals from the two clubs. We have talked on the phone and we will begin to meet with them within a few days.''

But after signing Jenas, Robson said: "I'm happy with the present squad and I would not expect to be involved in anything else this season."

Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy is aiming to shoot down his former boss Gordon Strachan when Southampton visit Tyneside tomorrow. Bellamy was signed by Strachan at Coventry and the Welsh striker said: "Gordon was good for me. He rated me and backed me throughout my stay at Coventry.

"And even though some people have suggested I didn't have the best of times there, I still finished up their top scorer.

"It'll be nice to see Gordon again, but my move to Newcastle has been wonderful and I'm in an exciting team that's really flying."

Jamie McClen's flirtation with the Newcastle first-team is about to end following the signing of Jenas.

Midfielder McClen had hoped for an extended run in the side after Kieron Dyer was ruled out with a stress fracture of the foot. But the 22-year-old from Cramlington is now resigned to quitting his local club after confessing the competition is too hot.

McClen said: "The gaffer has said that he wants to keep me, but this is a very big club and there are five internationals ahead of me in the race for places.

"I'm not complaining and it's not that I want to leave, but I'm nearly 23 and I need regular first-team football."

One of those internationals, Wales skipper Gary Speed, has urged his United teammates to keep up the pressure at the top of the Premiership as they chase the club's first top-flight championship in 75 years.

Only Chelsea (twice) and Manchester United have beaten Newcastle in a 17-match run that has yielded 12 wins and two draws.

Yet many still regard Robson's side as an outside bet for the title.

Speed said: "People don't mention us as contenders, but that doesn't bother us. We know if we keep doing what we have been doing, we'll be there or thereabouts in May.

Read more about Newcastle here.