NEWCASTLE United are facing a mini-crisis ahead of the Premiership kick-off.

Sir Bobby Robson will be urgently seeking clarification over exactly who approached who regarding the possibility of skipper Alan Shearer moving to Celtic.

Bhoys chairman Brian Quinn claimed the striker had instigated the Parkhead club's inquiry about his availability, before Celtic boss Martin O'Neill said he had made the first move.

And Robson will discover today whether his first-team squad has suffered any further casualties of the viral conjunctivitis outbreak, which is threatening to force a postponement of Saturday's Tees-Tyne derby.

Shearer was at the centre of a storm over the weekend after Quinn's comments, before O'Neill did his best to defuse the situation.

Quinn said: "The interest in Alan Shearer was not generated by us in the first place, it was generated by the other side - by the player and his agent.

"It was a question as to whether if Alan Shearer was going to move, whether Celtic would have an interest."

But after Celtic's 2-0 win over Motherwell at Parkhead yesterday, O'Neill attempted to clarify his position.

"I think what sometimes happens is that I don't relay the messages properly to the board," said O'Neill.

"I was making inroads. We've lost a quality centre forward (Henrik Larsson) and we'd like to replace him with a top-class player.

"I might as well start at the top and work my way down.

"Not that I want to argue with the chairman but I made the initial conversation with Bobby Robson.

"We were looking round to see who could provide around 30 goals a season for us if that's possible.

"And when you do you might as well look upwards and see if anything is available."

The revelations have surely ended any chance of the Newcastle goalscoring legend ending his career north of the border, although Celtic refused to completely rule it out.

"Of course Martin O'Neill would be interested because he is a quality player," said Quinn.

"But, with every day that passes, the possibility of that (signing Shearer) recedes."

Robson will switch his attention to footballing matters as soon as possible this week, but that may be hampered if further members of his first-team squad fall victim to the eye infection that has swept the club.

With Andy O'Brien and Lee Bowyer joined on the sick list by goalkeeping duo Shay Given and Tony Caig, any further casualties in the goalkeeping department would leave Newcastle badly short of cover.

Robson is sure to wrap Steve Harper in cotton wool with only teenager Ben Smith fit to pick up the keeper's gloves if his number two keeper went down with illness or injury.

If Harper were to fall victim, then the Magpies would undoubtedly ask for a postponement of Saturday's televised fixture.

Speaking last week Harper said: "We were told not to change shirts after the Celtic friendly.

"The doctor has said a couple of us might be carrying it now - the incubation period is five or six days and we might develop it over the next few days.

"We've all been given a list of the do's and don'ts - when we come in on Monday players are not allowed into the building together.

"We've got four people out at the moment and who knows if another four people have got it."

* Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has confirmed his club's summer spending spree is over.

New Blues boss Jose Mourinho has splashed out nearly £90m on seven new players this summer and Kenyon, who watched the Blues beat Real Zaragoza 3-0 at Stamford Bridge yesterday, said: ''The cheque-book is closed primarily because the manager has his squad of 23 or 24."

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