KIERON Dyer has leapt to the defence of under-fire team-mate Patrick Kluivert, claiming the Dutch international is "so far advanced" of anyone else in the Newcastle team.

Kluivert was roundly criticised for a perceived lack of effort on Saturday as United collapsed to a 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old was a peripheral figure as the Magpies slipped to 12th in the Premiership but, rather than suffering from a lack of motivation, Dyer feels he is merely paying the price for operating on a different footballing plain.

Kluivert's improvised backheel at Crystal Palace proved exactly what he is capable of and, while glimpses of such genius have been few and far between, Dyer is convinced his quality will eventually shine through.

"Patrick's football brain is so advanced," said the England international, who has been on the receiving end of some sustained criticism himself this season after refusing to play on the right of midfield against Middlesbrough. "He does some things that his colleagues just can't read.

"It looks like he's played a bad pass, or seen something that isn't there, but the reality is that he's just so far advanced."

Kluivert has spent most of his time on Tyneside playing alongside Alan Shearer but, with the United skipper missing the last three league games with a thigh injury, he has forged a new partnership with Craig Bellamy.

The duo shared three goals in two games against Palace and Everton and, while they drew a blank at Chelsea, Graeme Souness will face a serious selection dilemma with Shearer fit to face Portsmouth this weekend.

Bellamy insists he will score more goals if he is playing alongside Kluivert but, after scoring ten goals already this season, it will be a major surprise if Shearer does not go straight back into the team on Saturday.

"Patrick and Craig have worked well together," said Dyer. "But they know the big man is on the brink of a first-team return.

"I think everyone's hoping Alan is fit for the weekend and, if he is, then the gaffer will face the kind of headache every manager loves.

"Craig has admitted that he expects to score more goals playing alongside Patrick because he's suddenly playing a different role.

"When he plays alongside Alan Shearer, he does the running and the providing and that's how that particular partnership works.

"When Craig and Patrick play together, Craig is the main beneficiary but it's good for Newcastle that we have different combinations for different situations."

* Former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee has left Oldham. He played just 62 minutes in last week's LDV Vans Trophy game with Hartlepool and was due to be on the bench in the FA Cup tie with Orient last weekend.

But he returned home to Essex before the game and has since ended his five-game contract.

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