Robson's mixed messages help prolong 'will he, won't he?' saga

CONFUSION reigned at St James's Park last night as Newcastle manager Bobby Robson first denied rumours that he is on the verge of working alongside Leicester's Peter Taylor to see England through the friendlies against Italy and Spain and March's World Cup qualifier against Finland, and then disappeared for a lengthy chat "about his future" with chairman Freddy Shepherd.

"I've always said that if the FA ask for help, in whatever capacity, whether it's at that level or a bit less, then I would never let my country down," said Robson. "But I've not been asked. I'm not the long-term view of an England manager, am I? I'm 67 and I need to find a bit of time for myself."

However, after his side's 1-0 defeat by Everton, head coach Mick Wadsworth took the press conference, adding that the media would inevitably "put two and two together" because "Bobby's a great patriot and loves the international scene. He was quite good at it 10 years ago and he likes England to do well. It's a generous gesture he's made to try to help if at all possible - and that's not him saying he wants to be the manager."

oGeorgian international Zurab Khizanishvili was at Highbury yesterday to finalise a #7m move to Arsenal.

The 19-year-old Tbilisi Lokomotiv defender has also been in talks with Italian club Lecce, but opted to sign a three-year contract with Arsenal after Arsene Wenger told him he wants him to play against Chelsea reserves tomorrow.

Khizanishvili's father Nodar was a star of Soviet football in the eighties and won a Cup Winners' Cup medal with Dinamo Tbilisi.

oCELTIC are getting poised to offload understudy goalkeepers Stewart Kerr and Dmitri Kharine.

Former under-21 star Kerr was transfer-listed earlier this season and is now understood to be a target for Birmingham City boss Trevor Francis. After Robert Douglas' midweek transfer to Parkhead, Martin O'Neill is looking to recoup some of his investment and Francis has been tipped off about Kerr's ability by on-loan striker Mark Burchill. The goalkeeper came close to joining Chelsea two years ago, but the London club refused to meet Celtic's #1m valuation. But, now third in the pecking order, his value is estimated at #1.5m.

Kharine, earning #15,000-per-week after signing on a Bosman deal from Chelsea, has played only a handful of first team matches in his 16 months at Parkhead and O'Neill is apparently keen to offload the former Russian international.

oABERDEEN chief executive Dave Cormack is to have talks this week aimed at keeping Eoin Jess at Pittodrie. The 29-year-old midfielder was put up for sale during the week after turning down a new contract.

"We want Eoin to remain and the club and have been having talks with the player and his agent for the past six months," said Cormack. "After January 1 the player can talk to interested clubs as he is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, but Eoin has said it is not only about money. We have signed up three young platers and there are also funds available for two or three new players. We hope we can persuade him to change his mind."

Jess scored only once in 39 appearances at Coventry after Gordon Strachan paid #2.5m for him five years ago, and there appears to be little interest within the premiership.

oRoy Keane and Teddy Sheringham will miss Manchester United's Champions League match against Anderlecht on Tuesday because of injury. Keane has been ruled out after he was substituted with a hamstring injury yesterday, and joins Sheringham, who has a calf problem, on the sidelines. Ronny Johnsen is also doubtful after he came off at half-time with an ankle knock.

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