NEWCASTLE United are keeping a constant watch on the Ukraine as Sir Bobby Robson looks to strengthen his squad in the new year.

Robson dispatched chief scout Charlie Woods to the former Soviet state for the recent big-two clash between Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Magpies are well-aquainted with Dynamo, having faced them twice in the Champions League in 1997 and last season.

United yesterday reported that their lucrative Champions League adventure last term helped them to a record pre-tax profit of over £27m for the year ending July 31.

The catastrophic failure to qualify for the competition proper this season has impacted on manager Robson's transfer budget.

Nevertheless chairman Freddy Shepherd yesterday pledged funds, saying: "He's had £65m to spend up to now and we at Newcastle are renowned for not refusing managers transfer funds if they are needed.''

Newcastle are again being linked with Dynamo defender Andrei Husin following Woods' visit to the Valery Lobanovsky Stadium.

Centre-back Husin was said to be a United target in January, when they were also credited with an interest in Dynamo midfielder Alexei Smertin, who is now on loan at Portsmouth after being bought by Chelsea in August for £3.4m.

Woods is also understood to be have been impressed with Shakhtar's Anatoli Tymoschuk, who scored against Dynamo in a 1-1 draw, and the visitors' Nigeria striker Julius Aghahowa.

Arsenal and Bolton have been linked with 21-year-old Aghahowa, who has admitted he is desperate to play in the Premiership.

Significantly, Nigeria teammates Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha are with Arsenal and Bolton respectively.

Newcastle have a long-standing interest in the Ukrainian game, having been pipped in the past by the Gunners to the signature of defender Oleg Luzhny and shown interest in fellow former Dynamo star Sergei Rebrov before his move to Tottenham.

Woods said: "We always follow the leading clubs in the Ukraine. We have tapes and try not to miss a single game involving Dynamo and Shakhtar.''

Meanwhile, Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy will be summoned before Shepherd when he returns from duty with Wales, to explain the incident which led to him being fined £750 by Cardiff Magistrates over a drunken fracas at a nightclub in the city in March.

Newcastle introduced a strict new code of discipline for their players at the start of the season and Bellamy could face a club fine of the maximum two weeks' wages, which in his case would be around £80,000.

Shepherd said: "I want to hear what happened from Craig himself before deciding whether the club needs to take the matter any further.

"We have only heard what has been reported and I need to hear the full story. When he returns from international duty I will be holding a meeting with him.''

Bellamy, who has yet to score in the Premiership this season and suffered a loss of form while battling chronic knee problems, is coming under fire from fans two years after he was signed from Coventry City for £6m.

Frank Gilmour, chairman of the Newcastle Independent Supporters' Association, said: "I'm disgusted with his behaviour. My opinion of Bellamy is going downhill all the time, and he hasn't been producing on the pitch either."

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