Newcastle snub Robert

Following the latest chapter of his controversial career, Laurent Robert will not be handed a lifeline at Newcastle.

Currently on a season-long loan with Portsmouth, the Frenchman returned to the north east at the weekend for Saturday's clash against relegation rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

But after being informed by manager Alain Perrin he would be starting on the bench, the temperamental French winger complained of a hamstring problem and asked to sit out the 4-1 victory.

That infuriated Perrin who eventually was forced to go into the match with just four substitutes after Salif Diao failed a late fitness test.

The 30-year-old was fined two weeks' wages, understood to be around £50,000, and forced to issue a grovelling apology to Perrin, chairman Milan Mandaric and the fans.

It has been suggested Portsmouth would like Robert to return to St James' Park but that avenue has been conclusively blocked by chairman Freddy Shepherd.

Shepherd, speaking in the Newcastle Chronicle, said: "When Portsmouth signed Robert from us it was on a permanent loan deal until the end of the current season, and a deal which will see him stay there after that is all done and dusted as far as we are concerned.

"I don't know what arrangement Robert has with Portsmouth, but it has nothing to do with us and all I can categorically say is that he will not be returning to Newcastle United."