NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson goes into showdown talks today with a trio of troubled stars.

Midfield pair Kieron Dyer and Silvio Maric face Robson's wrath on the first day of pre-season training after getting on the wrong side of the Magpies' boss.

And injury-plagued striker Duncan Ferguson is set for a heart-to-heart with Robson as doubts over his future increase following the £7m signing last week of Carl Cort from Wimbledon.

Embryo England star Dyer and Croatian misfit Maric are both "likely to get it in the neck'' from disciplinarian Robson.

Dyer publicly apologised after revelations of his sordid, booze-fuelled holiday in Cyprus.

The 21-year-old flew to the Mediterranean Island with West Ham's Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand after all three had been omitted from Kevin Keegan's squad for Euro 2000.

Dyer was also treated in hospital after an incident in an Ipswich nightclub left him nursing an eye injury.

Robson has already spoken frankly about his "hurt'' over the antics of Dyer, who cost £6m when former United boss Ruud Gullit signed him from Ipswich nearly a year ago.

"When one of my players goes astray, it really hurts me. I take it personally,'' said Robson. "When they slip up it is like a dagger to the heart.''

Maric has been fined the maximum two weeks' wages - around £50,000 - for going AWOL and failing to join his teammates on an end-of-season tour to Trinidad and Tobago.

The former Croatia Zagreb player, another Gullit recruit at £3.5m, is desperate to quit Tyneside and has claimed he is entitled to a free transfer after confusion over his work permit.

Turkish side Fenerbahce have been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old schemer, but Maric is said to favour a move to Italy.

Whatever happens, Newcastle will demand a fee with Robson having stressed: "Maric is not a free-transfer player.''

A club insider said yesterday: "Dyer and Maric are both likely to get it in the neck from Bobby. Dyer won't get off lightly and neither will Maric. We are expecting him back - we haven't been told that he isn't coming back.''

Meanwhile, Ferguson will step up his fitness programme after missing the final five weeks of last season with a knee injury.

The 28-year-old Scot's name is being discreetly touted on the transfer market and it is clear that Cort is now seen as skipper Alan Shearer's new strike partner.

Cort will be joined at United's Chester-le-Street base today by fellow new boys Christian Bassedas and Daniel Cordone.

Argentinian midfielder Bassedas was signed from Velez Sarsfield for £4m, while his fellow countryman, striker Cordone, has joined United on a £500,000 12-month loan from Racing Club.

Outgoing close-season deals at Newcastle have seen Italian Alessandro Pistone link up with Everton in a £3m move and fellow defender Carl Serrant join Sheffield United on a two-month loan.

Shearer will not resume training until next week after being granted an extended break to recover from his England farewell in Euro 2000.