NEWCASTLE United have been rocked by a new injury setback which they fear could force Carl Cort to miss the pre-season tour of China and Hong Kong.

United, already facing the prospect of opening the next campaign without skipper Alan Shearer, are awaiting the results of a scan on the ankle Cort injured in Tuesday's end-of-season friendly at Exeter.

The £7m striker, who missed most of the season after undergoing surgery for hamstring trouble, was stretchered off four minutes before half-time in the 2-1 win.

Cort's severely swollen foot was packed in ice amid fears he might have suffered a break or ligament damage which, if confirmed, would mean a minimum of two months' rest.

United announced this week that they will depart for the Far East on July 19 for a ten-day trip due to include three matches.

The loss of Cort would give Robson a major frontline headache, with Shearer set to sit out the start of next season while he recovers from his second operation for a long-standing tendinitis problem in his left knee.

Manager Bobby Robson, cursed by injuries in his time in charge, said: "Carl has gone over on his ankle and has a very heavy sprain.

"He's going to have an X-ray. His ankle has come up massively and something is not right with it.''

Goalkeeper Steve Harper (neck) and centre-back Andy O'Brien (shin) also picked up injuries against Exeter in a game arranged to mark the official opening of a new £3m stand at the other St James' Park.

Meanwhile, United midfielder Gary Speed is likely to accept the offer of a new three-year deal, while winger Stephen Glass, out of contract this summer, is mulling over a 12-month agreement.

l Newcastle's brave attempts at living the impossible dream fell short despite a fine second-leg victory in the FA Premier Academy League play-off final in front of a 10,388 crowd at St James's Park last night, writes JACK LESLIE.

United, 5-0 down from the first leg, took the game to Ipswich, but could only notch a goal in each half - the second five minutes from the end.

United needed an early goal, but it took until the 28th minute to force the breakthrough when Tommy English squeezed home a low cross from Richard Offiong at the far post.

Offiong almost set up England colleague Michael Chopra for a second goal three minutes before half-time, but keeper Darren Kelly finger-tipped his cross away.

Two minutes after the interval the industrious Offiong sent Chopra clear, but he fired weakly against the legs of the advancing Kelly.

In the 85th minute a long ball from right back Lee Norton sent Offiong in behind the Ipswich defence and his clever 16-yard lob bounced into the far left corner of the net with centre half Lee Chaffey just unable to keep it out. But it was too little, too late.

Newcastle United U-17s: Collin, Norton, Ferrell, D Robson, Ramage, Labonte, Moore, Meredith (C Robson 76), Chopra, Offiong, English (Kent 81). Subs (not used) Carr, Guy, Bell.

Ipswich Town U-17s: Kelly, Beavers (Okay 62), Richards, Bonwick, Chaffey, Westlake (Robinson 74), Bloomfield, Ambrose, Bent, Burton (Bowditch 81), Dickinson. Subs (not used) Murkin, Bligh.