SIR Bobby Robson last night highlighted Jonathan Woodgate's continued fitness as a critical component in Newcastle's push towards the Champions League.

Woodgate will play a fifth successive game for only the second time this season when Everton visit St James' Park this afternoon.

The 24-year-old has been plagued with injury problems since joining from Leeds United last January, with a succession of thigh, hernia, groin and stomach problems restricting him to just 24 league starts for the Magpies.

He has proved a commanding presence when he has been on the pitch and with just eight games in which to claim a top-four finish, Robson is only too aware of how pivotal a role Woodgate could play over the next month and a half.

"It's important to us that Jonathan holds up for the rest of the season," admitted the Newcastle boss.

"There are some good centre-halves in the country and Jonathan is right up there with the best.

"I'm not saying he's better or worse than anybody else but he's up there with the very best there is. We certainly wouldn't swop him for anybody.

"We got him when the market slumped a little bit, so we got him for a very good price.

"He was an instant hit because he couldn't have been anything else. He's a class act but, if anything, he hasn't been able to play enough for us this season.

"He's only 24 so he's got ten good years ahead of him.

"If we can keep him on the pitch then he'll be a brilliant player for us for years to come."

Woodgate won his fifth England cap against Sweden on Wednesday night and, after catching the eye with an accomplished first-half performance, looks certain to be in Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for this summer's European Championships in Portugal.

Robson knows all about succeeding on the international stage, and the former England boss is confident that Woodgate has all the attributes needed in a world-class centre-half.

"Jonathan played very well for England in the week," said Robson. "You could see his class and I'm sure Sven was very pleased with him.

"I'm sure he'll go to Portugal - and it won't be for his holidays. I'm also sure he'll do well for England because he's so calm and composed.

"You can never see Jonathan getting himself sent off because, technically, he always does things right."

Last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Bolton saw Newcastle stretch their winless away run to ten league games and Robson's side would be out of the Champions League picture entirely were it not for their sensational home form.

The Magpies have a 100 per cent home record since the turn of the year and, with Chelsea, Wolves and Arsenal following Everton to St James' Park, maintaining that could hold the key to snatching a fourth-place finish.

"The players know what's at stake here," admitted Robson. "We have to win our home matches - and two of those are against Arsenal and Chelsea.

"It's nip and tuck in that section of clubs trying to finish in fourth place - there's not a lot to choose between all of us.

"We've all had slight inconsistencies. The only three clubs that have been consistent this season are the three above us - that's why they're there.

"But our home form has been more than decent. I thought we looked very special in our last home game against Charlton.

"We need to come up with that sort of performance against Everton because I thought the second half against Bolton was probably the poorest we've played for some time."

Kieron Dyer will return to the Newcastle side this afternoon after marking his return from a hamstring injury with a 70-minute run-out for the reserves at Darlington on Tuesday night.

Gary Speed is fit to play despite missing Wales' win in Hungary because of a stomach upset, while Aaron Hughes will resume at right-back following a calf problem.

Andy O'Brien (hamstring) is unlikely to make it though, meaning Titus Bramble will continue to partner Woodgate against an Everton attack shorn of the suspended Wayne Rooney and Duncan Ferguson and stripped to the bare bones as they fight for Barclaycard Premiership survival.

That puts the spotlight on to midweek international success stories Tobias Linderoth and James McFadden.

Linderoth played for Sweden in his country's defeat of England on Wednesday, while McFadden came off the bench to fire home a quality goal for Scotland, even if he could not save them from defeat by Romania.

With Everton also missing suspended duo David Weir and Peter Clarke and injured pair Francis Jeffers (back) and Alan Stubbs (groin), boss David Moyes finds himself leaning on the less famous names in his squad.

Rooney has been outstanding recently as Everton have battled to haul themselves to a respectable league position.

But elsewhere Moyes will be looking for others to carry his team, which many feel rely too much on Rooney anyway.

Midfielder Linderoth, having fought his way back into the side at the beginning of their five-match unbeaten run, will be crucial.