SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night handed his young Newcastle United squad the ultimate accolade when he acclaimed them as the best he has worked with in 35 years in management.
On the eve of the crucial Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen at St. James' Park, former England boss Robson insisted the rich promise of his fledgling Magpies eclipses the Ipswich side he led to FA Cup glory in 1978 and a UEFA Cup triumph three years later.
Robson's ringing endorsement of the array of youthful talent he has helped to assemble on Tyneside won support from Alan Shearer, who returns to the European stage tonight after serving a two-match suspension.
The United skipper believes the current group of players outshine those who have gone before in the six-and-a-half years since Kevin Keegan brought him back to his native patch from Blackburn in a then-world record £15m deal.
Robson, who celebrated his 70th birthday eight days ago when United won 3-1 in Leverkusen, likewise returned to his roots after spells in charge of Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and PSV Eindhoven.
In almost three-and-a-half years at Newcastle, Robson has nurtured the ability of Kieron Dyer and recruited the likes of Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas and, most recently, Jonathan Woodgate.
And Robson declared: "I've been around a long time, and this is by far the best squad I think I've had.
"I had a great team at Ipswich, but I didn't have 20 of them - I had 14. I loved Ipswich because I was there for 13 years. When I went there it was a Cinderella club and we made it a bit of a giant in Europe.
"Now I'm home and it means a great deal to me. I'm like my father was, and Alan here; I bleed black and white.
"The quality of the squad here has gone up to another level since I came. We've added to the greatness with some younger talent and the future is looking very good.
"I watched my squad play today and we were so good we should have charged admission!
"We've changed the squad considerably in my time here. Over 30 players have gone, and that's a lot of in three years. We have a good mix, with top-class professionals like Alan, and the potential of some good young kids.
"Most of the kids have to realise that they're not where the likes of Alan and Gary Speed are yet.
"But there's no doubt, given their attitude, that they can reach that level.
"The club is in a healthy situation, but you can't guarantee anything. A big surprise is how Liverpool are struggling to get results at the moment, and if you saw Leeds two years ago, they were like we are now. The trick is to keep things going.''
With Newcastle challenging in Europe and third in the Premiership, only three points behind Manchester United with a game in hand, 32-year-old Shearer insisted: "If you look at our squad, the pool of 22 or 23 players, it's the best it has been in my time here.
"Our aim has to be to catch the Manchester Uniteds and Arsenals, and I think we're slowly getting there.
"For me, the 3-0 win at Leeds last Saturday was our best this season because I thought every player played his part.
"The belief is there that we can, if not overtake Man. United and Arsenal, then be there with them where we feel we belong, which is in the top four.
"It's been a great experience being in the Champions League this season, but we have to be there every year, for a club of this size.
"Beating teams like Juventus and Feyenoord gives you great confidence.
"The whole team is buzzing and the standard is very high, but we must keep progressing. This club has been moving forward for the last three years, and we can't allow ourselves to stand still.'
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