SIR Bobby Robson has insisted that Portugal international Hugo Viana still has a vital role to play in Newcastle United's bid for success on two fronts.

The Magpies manager may need to utilise his full squad as they end the season chasing a Champions League spot and UEFA Cup glory, and he was at pains to point out how highly he rates the 21-year-old.

Viana, who cut a forlorn figure on Saturday after being ignored in favour of Lee Bowyer when Newcastle made their substitutions, hasn't started a game since the 1-1 draw against Valerenga in Norway in February.

Since then he has only played an hour of first-team football, and the £8.5m signing fears his lack of opportunities may cost him the chance of starring in this summer's Euro Championships in his home country.

But Robson has promised to personally speak to the player whom he believes, if anything, will become a stronger person because of the current situation he finds himself in.

Robson said: "We've got a minimum of nine games to play and he could come into it exactly when we need him most. I still have a huge amount of faith in his ability, I love the boy.

"I had a lot of sympathy with him on Saturday when Gary Speed came off because he is a big talent, there is no doubt about that.

"We have to keep him going, he is a talented player, he's not getting a chance and I know how frustrating that is for him.

"But he just needs to soldier on, it will improve his strength of character if nothing else. At the end of the day he could come into things when we really need him."

It appeared Viana, who was linked with a loan move back to Sporting earlier this season, would get his chance when Gary Speed was forced off to receive treatment on a head injury.

Robson, however, decided to replace Darren Ambrose with Lee Bowyer and play with ten men until Speed returned to the action. The decision surprised the crowd, but Robson was unrepentant.

"I just thought we needed an extra header of the ball because I knew they were dangerous at free-kicks and corners," said Robson.

"He (Viana) will have been very disappointed not to have got on against Everton and I'm going to have to have a chat with him, one-to-one."

Meanwhile, the Premier League have blocked a bid by Newcastle to rearrange their clash with Southampton until after their last day crunch Champions' League qualifier clash with Liverpool.

A league spokesman said: "Newcastle are trying to rearrange their match with Southampton which was due to be played this weekend but can't because of their UEFA Cup commitments.

"However, there is no question of the match being played after the final game of the season against Liverpool."

The game is expected to be played on May 12.

* Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer remains adamant he will not overhaul Jackie Milburn's Newcastle United goalscoring record.

His double on Saturday against Everton took Shearer to 171 goals for the Magpies - just 29 short of Milburn's 200 tally.

With at least nine games left this term, plus all of next season before he retires, the record held by the 1950s St James' Park legend looks within the former England captain's sights.

But 33-year-old Shearer said: "I don't think I will break Jackie's record. When you say I only need 29 between now and the end of next season you would think it was all so easy!"

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