Sir Bobby hints at new striker

By Akin Odejayi
October 20 2003

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson has admitted he will be short of striker options leading up to Christmas.
"Between now and Christmas it's possible we would have to rely on Cort and LuaLua," admitted Robson.

"It will be decided in the next few days whether Craig (Bellamy) has an operation or something like a six-week rest, and I'll then have to look and see what we've got in the club.

"We have Shola - who I like very much - and we've got Michael Chopra, although we are allowing him to go off to the Under-20 World Cup for a month.

"So Bellamy and Chopra won't be available.

"But we have LuaLua, who came on the other night against Breda and is desperate to get a chance.

"And Carl Cort is coming back - can he be the player he was? He should, because he's only 24 and is desperate to prove himself.

"So we know we've got those two and Shola, but we also have Kieron Dyer, who can play in any position and certainly alongside a recognised striker."

Robson admitted he could enter the January transfer market for a new marksman: "We will be looking for what we need in the shop window and be prepared to move."

with Freddy Shepard in spain at the moment a bid for kluivert looks imminet