SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night hailed Newcastle United's new academy and declared: "This is better than Barcelona.''

On the day chairman Freddy Shepherd revealed that United had splashed out a mind-boggling £300m in the past ten years, manager Robson spoke of his pride in the club's prestige development.

Former England boss Robson, who spent two years with Barcelona - the first as manager - said: "What we have here is the envy of the rest of Europe.

"The academy is better than anything we had when I was at Barca. There, we had only two training pitches.''

The academy, and nearby training centre at Benton, have cost United a total of £9m.

Robson added: "When I came here four years ago, we had no indoor training facilities and when the pitches were frozen, all we could do was run around the running track at the Riverside at Chester-le-Street.

"Now we have five full-scale pitches and a full-size indoor pitch.

"Our training complex and academy are among the best in Europe and the chairman has done a fantastic job to provide us with these facilities.''

Shepherd explained: "We've spent £7m on the academy and £2m on the training centre. Since 1992, under Sir John Hall and myself, we've spent an incredible £110m on the ground, academy and training complex.

"And with all the money that has gone on buying players, we've spent £300m in the last ten years.

"Never mind Roman Abramovich at Chelsea; Geordie Abramovich comes to mind when you look at what we've spent ourselves.''

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer, a then-world record £15m signing when Kevin Keegan lured him from Blackburn Rovers nearly seven-and-half years ago, was among the United squad who reported back to their plush training base yesterday.

Shearer was forced to miss the Magpies' 5-0 drubbing at Chelsea last Sunday when he went down with a throat infection.

But he fully expects to be fit for the game with Keegan's Manchester City at St James' Park a week today.

Midfielder Kieron Dyer (hamstring) and defender Jonathan Woodgate (hernia) are also on course to face City.

Dyer is set to make his comeback in the Reserves' home game against West Bromwich Albion on Monday, when Woodgate will be in second-string action for the second time in seven days following his 80-minute run-out in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough.

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