LIKE Craig Bellamy, Laurent Robert is one of a cast of Newcastle characters with an unhappy knack of driving Sir Bobby Robson to distraction.

Robson admits he never knows what to expect from French enigma Robert, a player he has dubbed "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde''.

Certainly the 28-year-old winger has been unrecognisable since he received a final written warning from the club early this season.

The often-petulant Robert's run-ins with first-team coach John Carver, skipper Alan Shearer and full-back Andy Griffin, plus his repeated sniping at his teammates and Robson on his personal website, culminated in an attack on the former England manager's tactics and selection policy.

Robson has gone on record complaining that Robert has given him more grief than any other player in over 35 years in management.

A parting of the ways seemed inevitable at one point, but the penny now appears to have finally dropped and Robert, signed by Robson from Paris St. Germain for £9.5m in the summer of 2001, is at last beginning to justify the Magpies' considerable investment.

A 12-goal haul, his best yet in a season for the club, is conclusive evidence of Robert's vastly-improved contribution.

On Saturday, he was at the centre of controversy after Charlton boss Alan Curbishley and centre-back Chris Perry accused him of diving to win a penalty from referee Mike Riley.

Robson has promised to review the incident and insists he will come down heavily on Robert if he feels Charlton had a valid argument.

But with Robert in such fine form, Robson will be loath to rock the boat.

The Magpies' boss said: "Most of the time, we don't know whether he's going to be Jekyll or Hyde, but on Saturday the two sides of his game were more consistent.

"We all know about his attacking side, but on Saturday he put in a very good, honest shift and played right to the end. That's what we have to get from him.

"He's now close to what we expect him to be. When he's on song and concentrating, he can be scintillating, and we have no complaints. If he does that, he's a very special member of our team.

"He's happy here. He loves Newcastle, the club and the place, and he doesn't have a problem. Our message to him is: 'Just go out and play'.''

With Newcastle leading 4-1 from the first leg, many might expect Robert to ease up a touch in tonight's UEFA Cup fourth-round return against Mallorca.

But the dual incentive of helping Newcastle to their first major trophy for 35 years and pressing his claims for inclusion in Jacques Santini's France squad for Euro 2004, is keeping Robert on his toes.

Santini's failure to visit Tyneside and see Robert's transformation for himself, is a source of frustration to the Parisian, who jokes that the North-East weather could be deterring his national coach.

But nine-cap Robert refuses to rule out a return to the international fold. He said: "I don't know whether the French manager will watch me, but it's still possible that I might make the team and I am not giving up hope.

"I played well against Charlton and I am very pleased with my form this season. I have scored 12 goals and Newcastle are playing well.

"We already have a big advantage against Mallorca, but it's not difficult for me to build myself up for this game.

"Mallorca are a very good team and they played very well at Newcastle.

"The UEFA Cup is a new competition for me and I am enjoying it. If we get through to the quarter-finals, hopefully we will play Auxerre and I can go to France and show them what I can do.''

Robert seems unconcerned that his reputation may have been tainted in the eyes of some by last weekend's penalty incident.

He said: "I play for the win and the referee gave the penalty. It was very good for Newcastle.''

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