Dyer finds new focus

Academy: Rise of Kieron Dyer

Kieron Dyer says he will bounce back for Newcastle and England after a season marred by controversy, injury and frustration.

The 25-year-old was innocently caught up in a probe over rape claims at London's Grosvenor House hotel but the case was eventually dropped altogether.

But Dyer was taunted by fans, one of whom threatened to "rip his head off".

Dyer said: "I dreaded away games. Fans were calling me a rapist. This season will make me stronger. Definitely."

The controversy was sparked when a woman claimed she had been raped in the hotel last September.

Dyer was questioned because the alleged incident took place in a room he had booked but the investigation against him and two other Premiership players was dropped through lack of evidence.

He added: "The Grosvenor House scandal set me back this season. When I was named in that I was devastated. I was nowhere near the room. I was in the hotel and went to dinner with my agent and a lady friend.

People say I'm cocky because I have two cars and a diamond watch but that means 90% of footballers are cocky Kieron Dyer

"What made it worse was because the investigation was going on, I couldn't release a statement saying I wasn't involved. That was hard."

The attacking midfielder also faced a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury to make Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad for Euro 2004 in Portugal.

But, speaking from England's training camp in Sardinia, Dyer insisted that his trials this season will only serve to make him stronger.

He added: "In the second half of the season I had a hamstring problem. And I have been playing wide for Newcastle which is frustrating. I spoke to the manager about it because my best position is behind the front two, but the club pay my wages."

Dyer also hit out at claims that his lifestyle - he was portrayed as glamour-loving playboy in the television documentary Football Diaries - was giving him a bad reputation.

"It is annoying when people say I am the leader of Newcastle's brat pack. It's not true, especially this season when I haven't gone out as much as I used to," he said.

"People say I'm cocky because I have two cars and a diamond watch but that means 90% of footballers are cocky. Everyone has got them.

"But one of the problems this season with that Grosvenor House thing going on, I did lose a bit of my cockiness on the pitch and my youthful exuberance, which are strengths.

"In a way, I am really glad this season has happened because I am going to come back so focused.

"There's talk about Newcastle wanting certain players out but I can put my hand on my heart and even if Newcastle accept a bid from any club, I would turn it down because I have not done justice to the Geordies.

"Hopefully, this will get me back on track."