TWELVE months after signing a three-year contract, Newcastle United's Peter Ramage is the subject of interest from newly-promoted Watford.

But, regardless of how much the Hornets are ready to spend, Magpies boss Glenn Roeder will fight hard to retain the services of arguably the club's most consistent outfield performer last season.

Ramage is one of Newcastle's rising talents and has shown an ability to perform to a high standard at both right-back and centre-back, while he has also filled in comfortably on the left.

And, with Newcastle already in need of defensive reinforcements, Roeder will not be keen on selling one of his most promising players.

That, though, is unlikely to deter Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd.

The Vicarage Road board are not armed with millions to spend following their promotion from the Championship, but Boothroyd will be given a reasonable transfer budget.

Watford are preparing to make a bid and it is expected to be somewhere in the region of £1m, but even that is unlikely to persuade Roeder to sell.

Ramage, a product of the Newcastle Academy, enjoyed a productive season and it was even suggested he was being monitored by Arsenal at one stage.

Michael Chopra's future is less clear. Roeder has offered the forward a one year contract but there is also an offer on the table from Barnsley.

Barnsley, where he spent the 2004/05 campaign on loan, have clinched promotion to the Championship via the play-offs and have already approached the player.

But, as Newcastle have offered the 22-year-old a fresh contract, the St James' Park board would be in a position to ask for compensation.

Since turning professional on Tyneside in January 2002, Chopra has made only seven Premiership starts.

However, following the retirement of Alan Shearer, Roeder is keen to retain the services of the forwards already on his playing staff while also making progress on the striker front in the transfer market.

And in Chopra's case that will depend purely on what the player feels is right. He is currently on holiday in Dubai and mulling over his options.

Kevin Bond is set to become Roeder's assistant. Bond is not happy with only being offered a one-year contract to remain as Harry Redknapp's No. 2 at Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, chairman Freddy Shepherd has criticised England officials for not telling Newcastle sooner about Michael Owen's latest injury scare.

Owen had to have a scan on a tight thigh muscle after training on Monday. Although it showed no damage, Shepherd claims Newcastle were left in the dark.

Shepherd said: "I am disappointed that no-one within the England camp informed us immediately of the situation regarding Michael on Monday.

"To be the last to know, via the media, is certainly disappointing, especially after we have kept the England camp informed all the way about Michael's fitness since he first injured his foot and we have done all we can to get Michael fit to play a big part for England at the World Cup finals this summer.

"We've co-operated all the way along with England to help Michael, and that's why this is disappointing.

"We'll be making our feelings known and seeking an explanation plus reassurances that this doesn't happen again."