NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson has told England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson he has a future star in Carl Cort.

Robson has already put his money where his mouth is by splashing out £7m to lure under-21 striker Cort from Wimbledon last summer.

Eriksson was at St James' Park on Tuesday night to see Cort give Arsenal's Tony Adams and Martin Keown a torrid time.

Cort missed most of the season after undergoing surgery for a nagging hamstring problem.

But former England manager Robson yesterday revealed that he urged Eriksson to run the rule over the lanky Londoner once he had fully recovered.

Robson said: "I saw Sven when he came and did his rounds earlier in the season.

"He asked me about Kieron Dyer and he also asked about other players. I said that, even though Alan Shearer was out, he still had an abundance of strikers.

"Cort was injured at the time, but I said we've bought a player who we like very much and in time you have to look at him.

"In my opinion, he's up there with the likes of Andy Cole and Kevin Phillips - and he's only 23.

"I said to Sven you have to look at him for the future. He has the character, attitude and skill to play international football.

"I'm not picking Sven's team, I'm just advising him. Against Arsenal the other night he could have scored a couple of goals and Tony Adams and Martin Keown found him difficult to handle.

"I think it steamed up Sven's glasses!''

Robson has also predicted big things for strikers Shola Ameobi and Lomana Lualua.

And to that end, the United boss is to hand 34-year-old front-runner Kevin Gallacher a free transfer to allow the African-born duo the chance to flourish.

Gallacher will make his final appearance for United today, when they end the season at home to John Gregory's Aston Villa.

Ameobi, 19, has come through the ranks and emerged this season as an emergency stop-gap for the injured Shearer.

And Lualua, 20, was signed from Colchester in September in a £2.25m deal.

"We've got two fantastic kids in Ameobi and Lualua and I'm excited about them,'' said Robson.

"Shola is going to be a big player - he's going to be a Carl Cort.

"I think Shola is terrific. When he came on for England Under-21s for the first time, he changed the game.

"We need to give him a chance - we can't block things up for him. As long as Kevin Gallacher's here, you'll be tempted to give him a game.

"I'm going to play Kevin this weekend because I think the team who played on Tuesday deserve to play again.

"I'll play Kevin for so long, then I'll bring on Shola or Lualua, or both.

"My gut reaction is that they need to be given the freedom to play. I'm sure that in Lualua we've bought a very exciting player.

"He's listened and learned and he's much better than he's ever been. He's so strong and quick.

"He's just got to learn that there's only one ball on the pitch and it's got to be shared. He tries to be too clever at times.

"I've told him simplicity is genius in football.''

As exclusively revealed in Northern Echo Sport two weeks ago, Gallacher is a target for Everton.

"He's been a great pro,'' said Robson, who made the Scottish international his first signing for Newcastle when he paid Blackburn £500,000.

"I've spoken to him and we'll get together again at the weekend to discuss things. He's been a diamond of a buy and if he delays a move he might not get the best one for himself.

"I don't think he'll be short of takers.''

Fellow Scot Stephen Glass is also out of contract this summer, but Robson still seems unsure about the winger's future.

"I gave him a game against Arsenal and I've got an opportunity to see him again this weekend,'' said Robson.

"I don't know what's in his head or what offers he's got.''

Robson yesterday admitted he had to "clean the club up'' when he succeeded Ruud Gullit 20 months ago.

"When I came here there was a bit of a spring-cleaning job to be done,'' said Robson.

"By the end of this season, from the time I came here, we'll have moved out 31 players.

"Our salary levels have come down to sensible, prudent proportions through good husbandry.

"When I was at Ipswich, I couldn't run the club on high finance. So I've used that experience from my time there.

"When I came here, Alessandro Pistone was worth a postage stamp.

"But we sold him to Everton and got lottery money (£3m) for him.'

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