SIR BOBBY ROBSON has diffused the threat of possible crowd trouble from Leeds United fans still angry at the sale of Jonathan Woodgate by barring the defender from returning to Elland Road tomorrow.

With Leeds supporters still fuming over Woodgate's £9m move to Newcastle United, Robson has ensured the England international does not fan the flames by accompanying his new teammates to west Yorkshire for the Premiership clash between the sides.

Woodgate is unavailable tomorrow after Newcastle agreed to a clause in his contract that precluded him from playing against his erstwhile club when he headed up the A1.

But Robson has decided the 23-year-old, whose thigh injury has prevented him from making his Magpies debut following his transfer at the end of last month, should stay away from Elland Road to prevent the possibility of problems among the home support.

The Newcastle manager said: "We're leaving Jonathan Woodgate out of it. There's no point him being at Leeds.

"He'd like to be there but we feel it'd be best if he stayed at home, took his dog for a walk, played golf or whatever.

"He told me he'd like to play, but I told him he couldn't. And if he were there, it would only get people irate.

"We want to soften that and keep out of that. He can't play, and if he were to walk down the touchline it would set things off.

"There's nothing more supportive than a crowd - and there's nothing more hostile than a crowd as well, depending on circumstances.

"We feel we should take the hostility away by him not appearing. It's good for the boy; out of sight, out of mind, I think.

"Leeds would rather not have taken the money for Jonathan but they had to do so. Nobody in the Leeds regime wanted him to go, and they were very unhappy that he left.

"I thought at the time that the clause might not be a bad thing. Him being there would inflame the situation, and you wonder whether that would be good for the boy.

"In a year's time, it will be more sedate, and the first time he will go back to Elland Road will be when he plays there for us next season."

Nobby Solano will miss tomorrow's match with a thigh strain, but he could return for next Wednesday's visit of Bayer Leverkusen.

Robson added: "Nobby is almost there. He was almost in the squad for the Leeds game but there's no point risking him.

"The injury he picked up against Arsenal was a two to three-week injury and he's recovering very well.

"He may be fit for Bayer Leverkusen, but he's a certainty for the Chelsea game in a week's time."

Hugo Viana is also close to a return after recovering from a dislocated shoulder, while Andy Griffin will replace the suspended Olivier Bernard at Elland Road.

Robson said: "Griffin has been out for three-and-a-half weeks but he's looking really good in training and he's chewing at the bit.

"We've got another five midweek matches, so we're talking about a schedule of Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday for a lot of the time.

"I don't think the same 11 players will be in the team for every match."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.