SIR BOBBY ROBSON has become one of Newcastle United's most high-profile supporters and suggests that Kevin Keegan needs five top quality summer additions to revive the club's fortunes.

Speaking at the launch of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation yesterday, Robson has become a regular at St James' Park this season, sat in the directors' box watching the club he has supported since childhood.

It has saddened the 75-year-old to see his beloved Magpies face a battle against relegation, but he has been encouraged by recent performances.

Keegan tasted victory for the first time in ten matches since taking over on Saturday, a 2-0 win over Fulham that followed on from the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City six days earlier.

The four points claimed from those two outings have pushed Newcastle six points clear of the relegation zone ahead of this Sunday's trip to Tottenham.

Another favourable result at White Hart Lane would once again improve Keegan's chances of keeping the club in the top-flight, something one of predecessors is hoping to see.

Once top-flight status has been secured, Robson is convinced that Newcastle can become a Premier League force once again - provided Keegan is given the backing in the transfer market that is required.

"We all know that Newcastle have the resources to take things on in the summer and, as a supporter, I naturally hope they do that," said the former England boss. "After what's happened this season, there will need to be a bit of rebuilding, but Kevin is far from stupid and he's already said that himself.

"They'll need five new players to go with what they already have and that will entail spending a fair bit of money - you have to do that to get into the top half of the table - but that shouldn't be a problem.

"When you look at the division and see Portsmouth up there and Blackburn Rovers up there ... Well, why shouldn't Newcastle, with that stadium and those fans, be challenging too?"

Given the passion for football which exists in the North-East, Robson has been stunned to see that all three of the region's Premier League clubs are involved in a fight to avoid the drop.

At this stage, Middlesbrough look the most safe as they are two points better off than 13th-placed Newcastle, while Sunderland sit four points ahead of third bottom Bolton.

But with Sunderland due to face West Ham at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, as the other two prepare for Sunday jaunts to London, the standings could soon change.

Robson, though, is certain that all three have the players capable of keeping three North-East teams in the Premier League. And, if they do, he insists that all can become a force to be reckoned with.

"I'm from the North-East and it's a great passion of mine that all three clubs should survive and prosper in the division. I'm confident they will do," said Robson, brought up in Langley Park, Co Durham. "I was delighted that Middlesbrough and Sunderland won at the weekend along with Newcastle, and Sunderland's victory probably topped the lot.

"Going to Villa Park and returning with three points was probably the biggest victory they've achieved under Roy Keane. If they're all there next year, which I'm sure they will, you can see the three of them sparking off each other and pushing each other to do better."

Newcastle, meanwhile, have learned that they are likely to have Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa out for the rest of the season.

The 31-year-old is expected to be out for around five weeks with a groin problem, meaning he will be lucky to kick a ball again before the summer.

And with Keegan exploring a number of defensive alternatives to acquire during the close-season - one being Tottenham's Michael Dawson - it could even be that Cacapa has played his last game for the club.

Sir Bobby Robson was speaking at the launch of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation yesterday.

The Foundation's first target is to raise money to set up The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the New Centre for Cancer Care.

All the cash raised will fund dedicated facilities, including 12 bed treatment rooms, laboratory, consulting rooms, for the NHS Trust at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. It is initially hoped that £500,000 will be raised. Sir Bobby is fighting cancer for the fifth time.