NEWCASTLE UNITED'S £9m man Jonathan Woodgate geared up for his long-awaited Magpies' Premiership debut by coming through an 80 minute practice match yesterday.

The Middlesbrough-born centre-back, watched by manager Sir Bobby Robson, and teammates including Alan Shearer and Shay Given, showed no ill-effects following his recovery from a thigh injury that has kept him out of action for seven weeks.

The game against a Hartlepool United XI had been specially arranged by Newcastle in a bid to get both Woodgate and Portuguese international Hugo Viana match fit.

Viana could be on the bench for tomorrow night's Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen, while Woodgate - inelegible for European games - would appear an almost certain starter on Saturday at home to Chelsea.

Sir Bobby Robson was keen to give Woodgate a run-out before his debut, and would have been delighted to see his newest acquisition come through unscathed.

Robson said: "I have to be sure when I put him in because the public will be so expectant of him.

"Chelsea are not a bad side so it's a match where he has to do well for himself.

"He has to be mentally and physically right because he doesn't want to start off with a disaster."

Woodgate, 23, appeared a little apprehensive during the game but impressed his teammates enough to earn a rousing reception in the game Newcastle won 2-1 thanks to goals from Carl Cort and Clarence Acuna.

Cort opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a header at the back post and Acuna made it 2-0 after about an hour from close range.

Meanwhile, influential midfielder Gary Speed believes the Magpies' away form holds the key to their battle to lift their first Premiership title since 1927.

St James' Park has become a fortress for Sir Bobby Robson's men and a return of 12 wins from 14 at home is only matched by champions Arsenal.

But the win at Leeds United was only their fourth on their travels this season, and the Wales international believes the Elland Road success should be used as a springboard.

Speed said: "We can't relax if we want to keep challenging for the title. We need to win more games away from home but hopefully that will give us confidence for the rest of the season."

Speed also praised man-of-the-match Kieron Dyer, whose two goals were his first in the Premiership this season.

"Kieron is a natural finisher and in training he's one of the best," said Speed."He came up with two vital goals at Leeds and he was outstanding. He was at his very best against Leeds."

He also had encouragement for his teammate in his battle to force his way into England's central midfield.

Dyer has been used as an emergency left-sided player by Sven-Goran Eriksson but is at his best through the centre.

"When Kieron's with England it must be frustrating for him because he regards himself as a central midfielder and that's undoubtedly his best position," said Speed.

"If you look at his current form there are not too many better players in his position.

"I'm sure if he keeps concentrating on his club form and producing the goods for Newcastle then it's only a matter of time before he'll get his chance at international level."

* Newcastle's French full-back Olivier Bernard has revealed it was his quest for first-team football that forced him to almost join West Ham at the end of last season.

Sir Bobby Robson battled to keep the former Lyon man on Tyneside, and the move by the Hammers caused a rift between the two clubs.

Bernard said: "The only thing I can say is that I just wanted to play football at that point.

"I was looking for the gaffer to answer me when I was asking him if I was going to play or not but he couldn't give me an answer. So I just decided to go to West Ham.

"I just need to play because I am young and I need to enjoy the game."

* Newcastle will discover this morning the extent of the ankle injury to Jermaine Jenas. The England midfielder limped out of training on Friday and could be on the sidelines for a month if the damage is revealed as torn ligaments.

Newcastle: Bartlett, Brennan, Kendrick, Elliott, Woodgate, Acuna, McClen, Bassedas, Viana, Cort, Chopra

Hartlepool: Provett, Bass, Simms, Sharp, Robson, Easter, Arnison, Sweeney, Smith, Richardson, Henderson.

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