SIR Bobby Robson has backed his players to get straight back on the European trail by beating lowly Wolves at St James' Park tomorrow, writes Scott Wilson.

Newcastle crashed out of the UEFA Cup in Marseille on Thursday, and their chances of more European competition next season hinge on beating Wolves and then securing enough points in their final two away games at Southampton and Liverpool.

Robson's squad need to show their mettle over the final week of the season if they are not to suffer a double disappointment, but the United boss expects to see a positive response to this week's French failure.

"We've still got something to fight for and I think we are capable of doing it," said Robson.

"We have to get over this disappointment quickly. We've made sure that the players have had their rest and have been able to prepare properly for the Wolves game.

"They need to rest, recover and then renew the battle against Wolves. We've got two away games to play after that - but they won't be any tougher than the match we played against Marseille."

Robson will recall Stephen Caldwell to the centre of his defence and, after Hugo Viana's spiritless showing on Thursday, the United boss could also name Lee Bowyer in his preferred central midfield role.

Wolves boss Dave Jones is without Mark Clyde (thigh), Oleg Luzhny (calf), Steffen Iversen (Achilles) and Silas (ankle), but he will offer striker Carl Cort the chance to silence the critics who bemoaned his three and a half year stay on Tyneside.

Cort has scored three goals in his last three games after making a £2m move to Molineux in January but, despite netting just eight times in a Newcastle shirt, the Wolves boss insists he does not have a point to prove.

"He will have nothing to prove to anyone but himself," said Jones. "It's not as though he was fit but just didn't perform for United.

"From what Sir Bobby said to me, it sounded as though he didn't want to part with him. But the lad was in a bit of a rut and a fresh start was what he needed."

* David O'Leary is urging Aston Villa to snatch a Champions League spot from under the noses of Newcastle and Liverpool.

And the Irishman, scenting the prospect of finishing fourth in the Premiership, insisted: ''Such a chance will not come around again for a long time.''

Villa's two main rivals have to meet in the final game of the season at Anfield. O'Leary's side meet mid-table Southampton today and then have a final-day home clash against Manchester United.

He said: ''I have huge respect for Liverpool and Newcastle and if we were to 'do' either or both this season the players would never have a better achievement to look back on."

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