NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson was last night a step nearer solving his striking problems, but the move for Frenchman Laurent Robert will not help their push for a UEFA Cup place.

United take on TSV 1860 Munich tonight at St James' Park and Robson's men go into the InterToto Cup semi-final second leg clash 3-2 up.

However, despite Robert being on the verge of completing his £10m switch to Tyneside, the Paris St Germain forward will be unavailable to play in Europe until the Magpies have qualified to take part in the UEFA Cup.

That leaves the responsibility weighing again on the shoulders of young pairing Shola Ameobi and summer signing Craig Bellamy, with Carl Cort, Kieron Dyer and Alan Shearer still ruled out with injuries.

And Robson knows that if Ameobi picks up another yellow card in the match with Munich this evening the England Under-21 international will be suspended for the final, should they make progress.

"I have watched the video of the incidents a couple of times and I know all about them," said Robson, who had a word with the 19-year-old yesterday following his bookings in the first leg a week ago and in the home match with Sporting Lokeren in the previous round.

"Shola has had two bookings and in my opinion they have been unnecessary. Petty bookings which he has to learn from, I don't accept that. I have got things that I want to say to all of the players.

"We are playing for big stakes at this club and the players have to realise it. We are playing to get into Europe and we are in a position where we can qualify within the space of six weeks, so we have got to take that chance.

"We have put ourselves in a very good position to do that, if we get through to the final then we will be better because we will be fitter and Cort, Andy O'Brien, Rob Lee and Clarence Acuna could all be ready."

Munich come to the North-East after being thrashed 4-0 by Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern, and Robson admits that he was totally shocked by last weekend's result.

But he insists tonight's tie is far from over, he said: "We have a slight cushion, but that could disappear quickly if they score an early free-kick.

"The first goal is crucial. We have to protect our lead early on.

"I was mesmerised by the Munich result against Kaiserslautern. I thought we did well to win 3-2 out there. That 4-0 result was magnanimous."

Meanwhile, Robson revealed that Dyer has had another set-back to his injury nightmare.

The highly-rated attacking midfielder pulled out of training on Monday, but indications are that it is not a recurrence of the problem he has been recovering from.

Robson said: "X-rays have shown that there is no damage to the bone graft or to the skin.

"All the surgeon can think is that there has been a muscle reaction. He is a little despondent. I have a lot of sympathy for the boy."

There are no indications as to how long Dyer is likely to be out for, but Robson was adamant that the 22-year-old was going nowhere.

"We have not put a price tag on the player," said Robson. "And I don't know where the reported £25m price has come from. He is not for sale."

United: Given, Harper, Barton, Elliott, Dabizas, Bernard, Caldwell, Solano, Lee, Bassedas, Speed, Griffin, Quinn, Bellamy, Hughes, Lualua, Gavilan, McClen, Ameobi, Breen.

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