Bobby Robson will hammer on chairman Freddy Shepherd's door once foreign defenders Alain Goma and Marcelino quit Newcastle.

Robson confirmed yesterday that both players will move as soon as suitable offers are received, although he would be reluctant to lose Goma after failing to talk the Frenchman out of a transfer.

The Newcastle boss insisted: "I'll have to replace them and if the situation becomes critical I'll force the chairman to do something. Either that or we'll drop points."

So far there have been no offers for the pair - who could bring in £10m - but Robson expects that to change once FIFA clarifies the situation over transfer fees.

"Only Leeds and Rangers are spending money at the moment. The rest of us are keeping our powder dry," he said. "At the moment we are getting by with what we've got.

"But if Goma went tomorrow we'd have to act. I've told him I'd like him to stay and I won't be happy when he leaves because he's a genuine Premiership player and he showed his bravery by playing against Charlton with a broken nose.

"In fairness the situation has not affected him. I've got no fears about his attitude while he's here and we don't want to sell. But he insists that he wants to go. Don't ask me why."

Goma, who cost £4.75m from Paris St German, 18 months ago, will play in the Worthington Cup at Birmingham tonight if he recovers from a calf injury. "Alain wants to show the form that has made him our strongest central defender and it's the best way to sell himself," added the Newcastle boss.

"If he plays as well as he can he might get the club he wants to go to. It's the same with Marcelino. When they are fit I will play them."

Newcastle were dumped out of the competition by Birmingham a year ago but they weren't bothered because of European commitments and the fight for league survival.

But it'll be different this time.

"We want to do well because it's a route to Europe," added Robson. "It wasn't our top priority last season but we won't be giving up anything. They'll want our scalp and I'm putting out my strongest team."

That's likely to include keeper Shay Given, who marked his comeback from a lengthy injury at St Andrews last season as a replacement for sent-off Steve Harper.

Given was man of the match against Liverpool on Sunday despite playing with a thigh strain and Robson is reluctant to sideline him for a game he now considers of pressing importance. However, Harper, dismissed for bringing down Brum striker Andrew Johnson in the 2-0 third round defeat, is desperate to make amends and has pleaded to play. "I hope I get the chance to make up for it," he said. "What happened is in the past and going back to St Andrews holds no fears for me."

Alan Shearer definitely plays after shaking a back injury.

Lomana Lualua is cup-tied and Stephen Glass has been added to the squad that will remain in the Midlands for Saturday's Premiership game at Aston Villa.