KIERON Dyer's footballing rehabilitation should come full circle on Wednesday night at St James' Park.

Dyer's Newcastle United career was in tatters last August following his refusal to play on the right for former manager Sir Bobby Robson against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season.

As if by some cruel twist of fate he was up in front of many of the men, women and children who pay his wages four days later when he went on as a substitute for England against Ukraine at St James' Park.

The irony to many on that night was that Dyer's refusal was based on his international ambitions - what many saw as his priority. He felt his England hopes were being threatened by Robson playing him on the right, which he felt was out of position.

The response of the Newcastle public, if somewhat obvious, could be seen as entirely justified. His name was jeered and every touch was booed.

At Newcastle United it's club first, second, third, fourth and so on. Country comes a distant 15th.

When he entered the lion's den that night the first jeers brought a broad smile to the face of the then 25-year-old.

Not the grin of arrogance or unconcern, more of a man who possibly wanted to run and hide but couldn't. If you don't laugh then you cry, and tears were the last thing the £6.5m signing wanted to shed.

The obituaries for his Magpies career were already being penned. Where can he go? Was Manchester United's previous interest still intact despite his indifferent form? Was there really an Italian side willing to take him on loan?

Wherever he was going it was apparent he couldn't last beyond January - could he?

The sacking of Robson, however, and the appointment of Souness brought some respite for Dyer.

His misdemeanour somehow worked its way down the long list of gripes of the Newcastle fans.

A goal at Blackburn in December in a 2-2 draw went largely un-noticed and did little to rebuild his reputation in the fans' eyes, but by the time Craig Bellamy decided to press the self-destruct button a month later, it was almost a question of 'just remind me, why do we not like Dyer?'

At the beginning of the year there was still a section who booed him, and there is still a section today who will never forgive him.

But he is now doing what he has threatened to do since he signed in the summer of 1999 - become a genuine attacking threat from midfield.

He has added some consistency to his game and more importantly, an eye for goal - four in his last nine games.

Before his recent mini-run Dyer's goals came in batches and always threatened to be the start of him becoming a ten-goal a season midfielder.

Perhaps his work with Terry McDermott has helped. Souness believes he can't fail to learn from a player who was closer to 20 goals a season than ten.

Back in August his England team-mate and friend Frank Lampard backed Dyer to emerge a 'stronger' player from his torture on Tyneside.

Those now appear to be wise words from the Chelsea man. Dyer has apparently come through his own professional hell a better player and a more mature individual.

Today may be Joe Cole's turn to start in England's midfield but next Wednesday Dyer could get his chance against Azerbaijan at St James' Park.

His name will no doubt be greeted with cheers next week and only then can the 26-year-old finally bury that August night against Ukraine.

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