IF St James' Park has a revolving door then it is jammed. Sir Bobby Robson has passed out of it, although the former Magpies boss enjoyed an emotional reunion with his erstwhile colleagues on the training ground yesterday.

Graeme Souness is on the outside looking in, with Newcastle's new manager poised to end his gardening leave on Monday.

And, trapped somewhere in the middle, John Carver is neither in nor out as he prepares to take Newcastle into battle for the first, and almost certainly the last, time.

Even by United's standards, this afternoon's game will be a novel experience.

Blackburn Rovers travel to Tyneside for the battle of the caretakers but, after failing to win any of their opening four games, Newcastle's players can ill afford to overlook today's events as they turn their attentions towards the new regime.

Souness will arrive on Monday with a reputation for being a hard taskmaster - he will have a harder task himself in minds are allowed to wander this afternoon.

"There's not really an uncertainty because we know who's coming in and we know we have to concentrate on the game against Blackburn," maintained midfielder Jermaine Jenas.

"We can't be thinking about what's going to happen on Monday because we have to get three points on the board before then.

"The gaffer's (Robson) a massive presence and we have missed that, but we've got good coaches and a good staff that have got our minds focused on the Blackburn game."

To Jenas, Robson will always be the gaffer and, while slips of the tongue are understandable given the short time that has passed since his dismissal, United's former boss will continue to cast a considerable shadow today.

He might even be at the game - ironic given the fact that Souness almost certainly won't be - but even if he opts to stay away from St James' Park, Robson has made sure his former charges know exactly what it means to him.

"Bobby came into training to have a little chat with us and say his goodbyes," said Jenas. "He wished us all the best for the future.

"It was emotional because it's never nice to see someone get the sack or even see someone leave the club in a different way. It's never nice, but he came to say his piece.

"He told us to go out there and beat Blackburn because he's still a keen fan and he still wants us to win things here.

"He seemed happy and was his usual bubbly self. He wanted to wish us all the best - not just in football, but also in the rest of our lives.

"That's the kind of person he was - he took an interest in us outside of football and he wants the best for us."

Jenas and Robson always had a special relationship, with the former England boss shelling out £5m to sign a player born exactly 50 years after he was.

The midfielder has not been an unqualified success, but Robson maintained total faith in him right up to the point of his dismissal.

That loyalty meant Jenas was left shellshocked when he learned of Robson's sacking while on England duty, before he was similarly surprised to learn of Souness' shock appointment via a text message from his mother.

"These things happen," he said. "But it was still sad, and it's been a bit of a mad two weeks.

"I felt a lot of sympathy because Sir Bobby was the man that brought me into the Premier League. He brought me to this big club and I'll always thank him for that.

"But everybody knows that football's quite a ruthless business and these things tend to happen. It's just unfortunate that it's happened to the gaffer."

It's also likely to happen to Carver on Monday, with Robson's former number two expected to make way for Souness' own choice of former Darlington and Hartlepool boss Alan Murray.

Carver failed to break into the United first-team during his playing days but, after rising through the backroom ranks, today's game marks the pinnacle of his footballing career.

Steve Clarke was Newcastle's last caretaker manager when he stepped into the breach following Ruud Gullit's dismissal and, while his one-match reign ended in a 5-1 debacle at Manchester United, Carver is going to relish today's experience whatever happens.

"The game is not about me, but about the players of Newcastle United and the need for them to pick up three points," he said.

"But I have to say that it will be the proudest and biggest day of my life. I don't know what the future holds, but whatever I do and wherever I go tomorrow's occasion will stay with me.''

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