SIR Bobby Robson last night labelled Jonathan Woodgate "as good as anything in Europe", and claimed the Newcastle centre-back is the man to step into Rio Ferdinand's England boots.

Woodgate returned to the starting line-up on Saturday in the FA Cup third round win at Southampton after a three-week absence with a hamstring tear, bringing some much-needed stature and composure to the defence.

The former Leeds United centre-back was instrumental in the victory with a polished performance, but he was overshadowed by Kieron Dyer's two-goal man-of-the-match display.

Robson, however, was delighted just to see his £8m man back at the heart of his back four.

With Ferdinand ruled out of Euro 2004 after the Football Association banned him for eight months following his failure to take a drug test, Robson was in no doubt who should step into his place at international level.

When quizzed on whether Woodgate could replace the Manchester United man in the England side, Robson was unequivocal in his praise.

He said: "Jonathan Woodgate is a top England player - he is a top centre-half.

"He's as good as anything in Europe. It's just his stature, it's just his presence. He's a class player - you can see it.

"He's good upstairs, brilliant on the deck, has great anticipation, reads it well, distributes it well."

Despite his wholehearted praise for the player, Robson is well aware that injuries have so far blighted his career at St James' Park.

Since arriving a year ago, Woodgate has been limited to just 19 games for Newcastle.

He signed on January last year carrying a thigh injury, and in September he had a double hernia operation prior to his recent hamstring problem.

Robson said: "What we have to do is keep Jonathan Woodgate on the pitch and we haven't been able to do that.

"It's a worry that we haven't been able to do that. He hasn''t played anything like the games he should have played for us.

"Since he came he's had three injuries that have kept him out. We have to train him, look after him and build him up."

Woodgate will come up against his former employers, Leeds United, tomorrow night.

Robson recalled how impressed he was when Ferdinand and Woodgate played together for the Yorkshiremen.

Ferdinand left Elland Road for Old Trafford in a near £30m deal six months before Woodgate signed for the Magpies, and Robson believes Newcastle got the better deal.

He said: "I know Sol Campbell is a fantastic player but there was a time when Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate played together at Leeds United - they were a fantastic pair.

"I saw lots of them, Ferdinand and Woodgate at Leeds, and they were outstanding.

"Manchester United paid £30m or £28m for Ferdinand and we paid £8m for Jonathan so we stole him in that sense.

"We bought him at the right time because the market got depressed."

Dyer, instrumental in persuading the centre-back - who turns 24 this month - to sign for Newcastle, is hoping Woodgate's return will help erase the defensive frailties that have blighted the season.

Dyer said: "I think one of the problems this season has been the number of mistakes at the back.

"That's not knocking Titus Bramble or Andy O'Brien because I think they have played well. But, having said that, we probably have two irreplaceable players at Newcastle United - Alan Shearer and Jonathan Woodgate.

"When you see the way Jonathan played on Saturday you see what we have been missing.

"When you watch the way he played at Southampton it is easy to see what a special player he is.

"When he is out everyone agrees he is a massive loss. It's been a nightmare with him out injured."

* Former Newcastle boss Ruud Gullit will make a return to club management at Feyenoord.

The 41-year-old spent three seasons playing for the Rotterdam club in the early 1980s and will take up his duties on July 1.

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