LAURENT ROBERT insists Newcastle United's strikers stand a better chance of scoring when the Frenchman is in the team.

Robert made only his third start for the Magpies under Graeme Souness in the seven-goal thriller with Manchester City on Sunday.

The flamboyant winger grabbed his first goal of the season and believes Alan Shearer, along with the skipper's fellow strikers at St James' Park, will score more goals when the former Paris St Germain star is there to provide the crosses from the left.

Robert's only other two starts came in the UEFA Cup against Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin, with Souness failing to be impressed by the player's work in the opposition direction.

But Robert said: "The manager wants me to play a little more defensively. I'm a striker but I'm willing to do more defensive duties if it means I get into the team more. Without me there's not as much supply for (Craig) Bellamy and Shearer.

"I don't have a problem with Graeme Souness, I like the kind of training we do under him.

"I've been here for four years and I want to spend many more years at the club because I like it here and I like the city.

"The manager has changed the tactics a little. Bobby Robson was a very good person and I was very surprised when he departed. Bobby knew my technique and my approach to the game. My game is about getting forward, scoring and providing crosses but I'm prepared to defend more if need be."

Robert is hoping to retain his place in the Newcastle side for the Carling Cup tie with Norwich this evening, when Souness is expected to make wholesale changes from the team that overcame Kevin Keegan's City.

The 29-year-old wants to follow up his weekend goal with another so he can dedicate them both to his young son Matthieu, who celebrated his seventh birthday yesterday.

"I'm always looking to score and last season I scored 12 goals. I want to at least equal or beat that this season," said Robert. "To do that I need to be playing regularly.

"The goal was for my son and another would be nice. His English is better than mine, and he's already got a Geordie accent. He supports Newcastle, and of course dad is his favourite player!

"But that was my first goal of the season and I was delighted to score it. But it's more important that the team wins than I score."