NEWCASTLE defender Nikos Dabizas has warned leaders Leeds that their rough house tactics could cost them the Premiership title.

Greek strongman Dabizas is speaking from first-hand experience after being the victim of a horror tackle by Leeds striker Mark Viduka in the Magpies' stunning 4-3 victory at Elland Road last month.

Dabizas still bears the scar of the badly gashed leg he feared was broken following his duel with Viduka, which also left him with a fractured nose.

The Magpies' centre-back insists there will be no vendetta against Viduka when David O'Leary's side visit St. James' Park this afternoon.

But he believes Leeds' physical approach may yet rebound on them. "It's in the nature of some of their players to be aggressive and physical,'' said Dabizas.

"They have some aggressive, hard-tackling players and that's why they have had some incidents.

"I don't think it is something that comes from the manager or the club - it's the players themselves who try to be physical.

"It might cost them some red cards or bookings. Sometimes the aggression can win you games, but it can also lose them too.

"No side is afraid of the other and they aren't going to frighten us.

"The Geordie fans like a fierce confrontation - that's what gets them going.

"The game in England is physical and that's one of the reasons I came here.

"But there's a big difference between being physical and violent.

"I like a physical, aggressive game, as long as there is not going to be a problem with your opponent. I think Viduka will try to forget what happened.

"He knows he was wrong, but he didn't ask how I was after the game and that's what annoyed me most. If I had done something, I would go to see the player after the game.

"The challenge will be in the back of my mind but I won't let it affect my game.

"There's no point in clattering him and getting myself booked or a red card. I will try to stop him scoring - that will be my only revenge, taking the three points.''

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson believes Leeds can become English champions for the first time in a decade - but still doesn't rate his own side's chances.

"I think Leeds can win it - they've got a squad capable of doing it,'' said Robson. "If David O'Leary has a fully-fit squad to choose from, they would stand a very good chance.

"We'll go back on top if we beat them, but I still stand by what I said, that we can't win it.

"But that won't stop us trying very hard to win it and I would expect us to go close. We'll be there or thereabouts if we keep everybody fit.''

Robson was delighted with his side's fightback at Leeds. "Our game there was a classic,'' he said. "We were 3-1 down, but we never gave up and showed tremendous spirit.

"Robbie Fowler is there and playing regularly again, which is what he wanted to do when he was at Liverpool.

"He seems to have hit a rhythm and he's a good partner for Viduka, who I also rate.''

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer goes into today's game poised to equal his best scoring run for the club. Shearer has netted in his last six games and another will match his seven-game scoring sequence in season 1996-97.

He would then be only one short of the Magpies' post-war record scoring run of eight games, set by his former strike partner Les Ferdinand a season earlier.

Robson is urging £10m signing Laurent Robert to copy the workrate of the likes of Shearer, Robert Lee and Gary Speed, in order to fulfil his full potential.

French winger Robert, who has missed the last two matches with a hip injury, is set to return today.

Robson said: "We keep talking to him and he's aware of what we need to get from him.

"We know he's terrific going forward but we've got get a full performance out of him.

"If he looks around, he'll see that Robert Lee, Gary Speed and Alan Shearer are playing for 90 minutes, and he has to do the same.''

Speed, who Robson brought off early in the second half of last week's FA Cup third-round victory over Crystal Palace when he aggravated an ankle problem, is set to face his old club.

Midfield colleague Lee missed the cup tie with a nagging groin injury, but could also come into contention.

Robson has reiterated his determination to hold on to Lee, who had a transfer request turned down three months ago, even though West Ham are keen to offer him a fresh start.

"West Ham are interested,'' confirmed Robson.

"The position is he is under contract until the end of the season and as far as the club are concerned, we're making him honour that contract. He's a valuable player to us. West Ham aren't going to give Paolo Di Canio away, are they?''

* Newcastle's academy director Alan Irvine is leaving the club at the end of the season to join the Football Association as national coach, one of five new appointments created by Howard Wilkinson, the FA's technical director

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