NEWCASTLE United are facing an injury crisis ahead of their crunch UEFA Cup semi-final first leg clash against Marseille at St James Park on Thursday.

Magpies manager Sir Bobby Robson had already lost Shola Ameobi with a thigh strain before yesterday's draw at Villa Park, but his problems increased dramatically by the end of the afternoon.

Craig Bellamy's season is almost certainly over after tearing his left hamstring while chasing the ball in the second-half, Jermaine Jenas overstretched and tore a thigh muscle, while Kieron Dyer complained of soreness in his thigh after completing 90 minutes.

A clearly frustrated Robson confirmed after the game that the injuries would keep both Bellamy and Jenas out for weeks.

On a positive note Robson saw Lee Bowyer put in a sterling performance in central midfield after coming on as substitute. After the former Leeds and West Ham man's prolonged European ban he is available to start his first game for Newcastle against Marseille this week.

Robson said: "We've lost Bellamy, we've lost Jenas. Bellamy's a hamstring tear and Jenas has a problem with his upper thigh.

"Both could be out for weeks. It's a blow for us.

"I can't say it's the end of the season for Bellamy but a hamstring is a major concern.

"I took a chance with Dyer because he hasn't played for two and a half weeks with a hamstring. He said he was alright but he said he was alright on Thursday (against PSV) but I decided to keep him out.

"I decided to keep him fresh for Sunday but he's come off with an unpleasant sore feeling in his thigh."

The action on the pitch erupted after just ten minutes when Andy O'Brien was sent off after hauling down Darius Vassell as the Villa striker closed in on goal.

Robson refused to criticise referee Barry Knight for what was at best an indifferent performance, but felt the Orpington official should have given the benefit of the doubt to the defender.

Robson said: "I'm not going to criticise the referee because the game threatened to get out of control and he handled it pretty well."

Robson was referring to a ten-minute spell that saw Alan Shearer and substitute Michael Bridges booked, and a flare-up between Gary Speed and Lee Hendrie that resulted in the Wales skipper also receiving a yellow card.

"I'm not panning (sic) the referee," said Robson. "The referee never lost control.

"My point about the sending off is that it was not an easy decision to make because he's 30 yards behind the ball.

"Vassell never got in front of Andy O'Brien, Vassell never got a touch on the ball.

"It's two players jostling and fighting each other. It's 50-50. They both fell over and the referee has to be sure and I don't think he was." Robson thought Speed was unlucky to receive his booking for what apeared to be an elbow on Hendrie. He said: "I thought Gary Speed was very unlucky to get booked. It boiled over, but it's not ladies' football.

"It's two team battling it out for fourth spot. But Gary was unlucky. Lee Hendrie went down too easily. He hasn't been taken to hospital has he?

"It was a great battling performance from us. The two centre-halves were outstanding."

The point earned put Newcastle level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool, with the Magpies still with a game in hand.

The early sending-off meant the point was a bonus to Robson's side, a fact not lost on Villans boss David O'Leary.

O'Leary said: "They wasted a lot of time and I was surprised it took the referee until the 90th minute to book someone for timewasting (Given). "They set their stall out for a point and in truth I thought we played better against 11 men then when they went down to ten."

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