BOBBY ROBSON has told his Newcastle United critics that he won't be pensioned-off at the end of the season.

Some on Tyneside feel that the former England manager, who enters his 70th year next February, has only one season left in him.

But Robson, operating on a 12-month rolling contract, is eyeing two more seasons as United manager and insists the prospect of a move "upstairs'' holds no appeal.

Skipper Alan Shearer is widely regarded as the heir apparent, with Robson taking up a role as general manager or director of football.

But after 33 years in management, and at the start of his third term with the Magpies, English football's elder statesman maintained: "I haven't given any thought at all to retirement. I'm in good health and I'm on the training pitch from start to finish.

"We lost the services of our head coach Mick Wadsworth this summer and we haven't replaced him yet. We've all put our oar in and my coaching staff have worked very hard. I've read that Bobby might move upstairs, but what's upstairs? I don't think I fancy that.''

United open their Premiership campaign tomorrow with a daunting visit to Chelsea and a familiarly lengthy injury list. Shearer, Kieron Dyer and Carl Cort all are sidelined while Gary Speed and Shola Ameobi remain doubtful.

But Robson, who parades £16m worth of new talent in France winger Laurent Robert and Wales striker Craig Bellamy, still displays unshakeable belief and indomitable spirit.

Robson took flak from certain quarters for United's poor showing last season, but yesterday declared: "I'm still very optimistic. I think this is the best squad we've had since I came here. I think we still need one more player. We know who we'd like but we're told he's not available. We just need the likes of Shearer, Dyer and Cort fit and we'll be OK.''

Injury-jinxed Cort, who missed much of last season after undergoing a hamstring operation and suffered ankle-ligament damage in an end-of-term friendly at Exeter, has been dealt another cruel blow with what Robson fears could be a three-month knee problem.

The £7m striker, who joined United from Wimbledon last summer, took an awkward tumble during the midweek practice match which saw Shearer make his comeback from knee surgery.

Robson had pencilled in Cort for a competitive return in the Intertoto Cup final second leg against French side Troyes at St. James' Park on Tuesday.

"I wouldn't have played him at Chelsea, but he was in my mind to play in the Troyes game,'' said Robson. "Instead he'll be in Cambridge seeing a specialist. He fell badly and wrenched the knee. We know he's damaged a cartilage, but we don't know whether it's going to be a three-week, six-week or 12-week injury.

"It's rotten luck and I feel terrible for the boy. I'm devastated for everybody. He's worked for three months to get fit for the start of the season and he's had no holiday. He's very low - he's had lousy luck.

"We also had the setback with Kieron Dyer tearing a muscle. Hopefully, after the Sunderland game next weekend, he'll be able to join in training and get going again.

"Alan Shearer had a little reaction from the game this week, but it was his first in five months so we expected that.''

Robson is likely to resist the temptation to pitch Nolberto Solano into the Chelsea clash. The £10m-rated winger scored the only goal in Peru's World Cup qualifying victiory over Colombia, but Robson wants to keep him "fresh'' for the return with Troyes.

The United manager is still angry at what he sees as UEFA's intransigence over a request to switch the Intertoto match to Wednesday. "It's a very important game,'' said Robson, whose side must win to secure a place in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

"The administrators have to realise that there is no way teams should have to play two games in three days. They wouldn't do that to horses.

"We've tried every avenue - we even asked the Premier League if we could bring the Chelsea game forward - but the answer we keep getting is 'no'. We're also in the second round of the Worthington Cup. Sunderland are exempt and we asked for exemption too, but we are even being made to play in that one.

"I've written Solano out of my head for Chelsea. With jet-lag, I don't think there's any chance of him playing, but I might stick him on the bench. We won't have Robert on Tuesday because he's cup-tied, so we're going to need Nobby fresh for then.''

United face a Chelsea side which includes Holland winger Boudewijn Zenden, who Robson failed to lure from Barcelona this summer.

"Zenden looked great against England the other night,'' admitted Robson. "I chased him for several months. I spoke to him a few times. Eventually he opted out of answering his voice-mail.

"But we have to be happy with what we've got. Robert showed last weekend in the game with Athletic Bilbao what a talent he is.'

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