NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson could pull Gary Speed out of the Wales squad for the World Cup game against Belarus in Cardiff a week today.

Robson yesterday admitted he was undecided over whether Welsh skipper Speed, who has been out for five weeks with a recurrence of hamstring trouble, would return for tomorrow's clash with Liverpool at St. James' Park.

Speed himself has admitted it would be "unfair'' if Robson brought him back into the Magpies' midfield at the expense of Chilean Clarence Acuna.

Robson hinted that Speed would at best be on the bench, but he will assess his fitness before making any firm decision.

The United boss, who has already withdrawn injured centre-back Aaron Hughes from the Northern Ireland party, stressed: "Robert Lee and Clarence Acuna are doing very well for us in midfield - I thought they were outstanding against Leicester the other night.

"Gary can score goals and they won't be easy to come by against Liverpool, because they're pretty mean.

"Gary is in the Wales squad, but he can't link up with them if he's not fit then ends up coming back here injured. We would have to be absolutely sure that he's fit before we allowed him to go to Wales.

"I haven't spoken to Gary about Wales yet. We'll see how he is and I'll have to speak to their manager, Mark Hughes, about him as well.

"Gary is very close to being fit, he's training fully without any problem, but he hasn't had a match and we just have to decide whether he's someone we should consider. My temptation would be to put him on the bench.''

Robson is also worried about the prospect of losing £10m winger Laurent Robert in November when France visit Australia for a friendly in Melbourne, a game the United boss has described as "silly'' and "ridiculous''.

"I think there would be a hue and cry if England took a team to Australia for a friendly in November,'' rapped Robson.

But Robert wasn't named in the French squad announced yesterday for the friendly against Algeria next weekend.

Robson's immediate priority is the visit of the Reds as fifth-placed Newcastle look to turn up the heat at the top of the Premiership table.

Liverpool are without Newcastle's Nemesis, striker Michael Owen, who broke down with a hamstring injury last weekend, while key midfielder Steven Gerrard is suspended.

But Robson said: "Everybody is talking about the players they have out, but we're without people like Kieron Dyer, Carl Cort and Gary Speed, so there are match-winning players on both sides who aren't playing.

"Michael Owen did damage to us in April at Anfield with his hat-trick against Nikos Dabizas and Andy O'Brien.

"Michael's a hot property - the slickest kid in town in terms of taking chances.

"In a way it's a help to us that he's out, but we know that they've got Jari Litmanen, Emile Heskey and Robbie Fowler, and two out of those three will play.

"Gerard Houllier has very good options.

"Steve Gerrard is an outstanding, awesome player, but he won't be playing either.''

Robson, meanwhile, yesterday acknowledged the form of central defender O'Brien, who arrived on Tyneside shortly before last season's deadline in a £1m move from Bradford City.

"I think we've done exceptional business with O'Brien,'' said Robson. "He proved towards the end of last season what a good buy he was.

"He doesn't want to be a Franz Beckenbauer. He just wants to be a great defender.

"I think we've done very well with him. He loves to defend and that type are the best defenders in the world.''

* Newcastle's Paraguayan winger Diego Gavilan is out for two months with a broken arm.

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