Robinson on the move

Robinson celebrates scoring his first senoir goal

Newcastle United have reluctantly agreed to listen to offers for young striker Paul Robinson after investing heavily in attacking options.

Manager Bobby Robson held showdown talks with the former Darlington hitman in the wake of the recent arrivals of Carl Cort from Wimbledon and Argentinian Daniel Cordone.

Robson has now agreed that the Sunderland-born 21-year-old will be allowed to leave if the right offer comes along.

"I'm desperate for first team football," Robinson said. "I don't want to leave Newcastle - I love it here - but there is so much competition for first team places now that I feel I have fallen further behind in the queue."

It is only with the greatest reluctance that I have decided to listen to offers for him

  Bobby Robson

Robson admitted he was reluctant to let Robinson go, and said: "I don't like selling quality young players like Paul, but I can well understand how he feels.

"He is an ambitious lad with a lot of talent and he is bursting with enthusiasm. I have a great deal of sympathy for him.

"It is only with the greatest reluctance that I have decided to listen to offers for him."

Newcastle career

Robinson arrived at St James' Park in March 1998, along with team-mate James Coppinger, as part of a joint £500,000 deal with Third Division Darlington and broke into the first-team at the beginning of last season.

With Duncan Ferguson injured, Robinson appeared as a substitute in the first three games of the campaign, and was handed his first start in the 3-3 home draw with Wimbledon, the only point United gained from their first seven league games.

Robinson spent time on the bench under Robson

Robinson played a central role as Ruud Gullit's reign came to an ignominious end when he was chosen ahead of both Ferguson and Alan Shearer for the derby clash with Sunderland four days later.

The £23m partnership was forced to sit on the bench for most of the game and saw Newcastle go down 2-1, a result which would see the end of Gullit's reign at St James' Park.

After Robson's arrival, Robinson was used just 11 times as a substitute, scoring his first senior goal for the club in the 2-2 Uefa Cup first round second leg draw with CSKA Sofia.

Although he withdrew a transfer request submitted at the turn of the year, this summer's acquisitions had left him facing an even tougher battle to re-establish himself.

Several clubs, have been linked with the striker in recent weeks, although with Robson looking to generate cash, it could cost prospective buyers up to £1m to clinch his signature.