ANGRY Laurent Robert has put Tottenham on alert after the Frenchman's Newcastle United career edged a step closer to an acrimonious end.

The 29-year-old has aimed a scathing blast at Graeme Souness' reign on Tyneside and opted to speak out after being omitted from the starting line-up for the last three games.

Robert has decided enough is enough after being labelled 'lazy' in both training and matches and he believes his time with the Magpies is about to come to an end.

Liverpool have been linked with a surprise move for Robert, with manager Rafael Benitez known to have made two enquiries about the player while he was in charge of Valencia last season.

Despite now being under the management of Claudio Ranieri, the Spanish outfit are also known to be interested again, while Atletico Madrid and Villarreal are also thought to be monitoring the situation.

However, Tottenham are believed to be heading the queue for the enigmatic winger who are expected to make a firm bid to take the player on loan for the rest of the season in January.

Spurs are desperate to add new wide-men to their side and have already been knocked back for two of their top targets - although they do play on the opposite flank.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol has been rebuffed by Blackburn manager Mark Hughes after approaching the Ewood Park club over the availability of Australian Brett Emerton. And Jol baulked at Manchester City's £15m asking price for England's Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Tottenham have largely developed a buy young policy in the transfer market and a permanent switch for Robert is unlikely to appeal at this stage.

But London sources claim Jol would like to sign the former Paris St Germain left-midfielder until May and then decide on whether or not to make the switch a more long-term one.

One certainty is that Robert's days on Tyneside are numbered after his attack on Souness' regime - evoking memories of Frenchman David Ginola's days at the club when he clashed with former boss Kenny Dalglish.

The £9.5m man, whose contract runs out in 2006, said: "The manager has no confidence in me. He says I am lazy in training and tells people I am no good. All the time I am just supposed to sit on the bench.

"It looks like I am not going to play for Newcastle any more. I feel I have proved myself during three years in the Premiership, but the manager keeps putting me on the bench.

"Even when I do come on I don't know where I am supposed to play or what I am supposed to do. I want to stay with United, I really do. But if I am not going to play, then I will move."

Robert's time in the North-East since joining in 2001 has seen his incredible talent win many matches for Newcastle, while his workrate defensively led to run-ins with Souness' predecessor Sir Bobby Robson. And now the Scot has continued to ask similar questions just four months into his tenure at St James' Park.

Meanwhile, Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy believes the Festive programme is the perfect time to steer the club back to where they belong - in the top six of the Premiership.

After Sunday's trip to Blackburn, Newcastle have games with Arsenal, Birmingham and West Brom lined up before their FA Cup third round tie with Yeading on January 9.

One blessing is that there are no European matches now until mid-February and Bellamy insists now is the time to end a dreadful run of just one win in eight Premiership matches.

"The Christmas fixtures are ridiculous," said the Welsh international. "There has to be a break from the UEFA Cup at this time of year and for Newcastle it's an opportunity to focus fully on where we're going in the Premiership.

"There's an obvious need to pick up points and it's something we can do. This is a great club. There are not many clubs better. I know we're not doing what we should be doing at the moment but let's get one thing right - this is a top club.

"There's Manchester United and maybe Liverpool out there but there's no club which can claim to be much bigger than Newcastle United."

Bellamy could be back in the side to face Blackburn after pulling out of the game at Liverpool with a 'dead backside'. But there is unlikely to be a comeback from Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer.

Shearer suffered a set-back in his attempts to regain full fitness from a thigh problem. He had another scan on the injury on Monday and is rated doubtful

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