Newcastle hope for change in fortunes

Robson has spent £16m in the close season

BBC Sport Online's Mandeep Sanghera believes the return of key players could see the good times return to St James' Park.

Newcastle have endured some troubled times in recent seasons and this term they will hope to start challenging for honours again.

They showed promising signs last season before fading away and ending up in a disappointing 11th spot.

The Magpies endured plenty of frustration on the injury front which robbed them of key players.

  Summer transfers

IN

Craig Bellamy (Coventry)
Robbie Elliott (Bolton)
Laurent Robert (Paris St Germain)

OUT

Stephen Glass (Watford)
Des Hamilton (Cardiff)
David Beharall (Grimsby)

Most notably former England captain and fans favourite Alan Shearer and £7m signing Carl Cort were missed.

Newcastle hope Shearer will be back for the start of the season and the player himself has warned the talk of his demise is premature.

"I know that a few doom-mongers have been trying to suggest that this is the end of Alan Shearer's career," he said. "Well, they're wrong - very wrong.

"The top specialist in the world says there are no complications and when I come back - not if - there won't be any problem."

Shearer should be able to link up with Cort in the very near future as the ex-Wimbledon forward is back in training.

Craig Bellamy has arrived for £6m from Coventry and provides the attack with more depth.

But the midfield flair of Kieron Dyer will be missing for the start of the season as his injury problems from last season have continued to rob the side of a vital player.

Manager Bobby Robson lost out in his attempts to sign Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden and striker Francis Jeffers.

But the former England manager has signed French wide player Laurent Robert for £10m.

The strikers should get plenty of service and excitement from Robert and Nolberto Solano in midfield.

The attacking instincts of both players should also help stir the fanatical Tyneside club's fans.

One of Newcastle's downfalls last term was their away form and that will have to improve if they have hopes of securing a place in Europe.

They were awarded a place in the Intertoto Cup this season because of Malaga's withdrawal but they will want to make sure via the Premiership this time around.