SIR BOBBY ROBSON has predicted that the race for fourth place in the Premiership will go to the wire as Newcastle prepare for a "monumental'' clash with Charlton at St. James' Park this evening.

Alan Curbishley's fourth-placed side are a point clear of Newcastle, who slipped to sixth after Liverpool's 3-0 midweek home win over Portsmouth, and the Magpies cannot contemplate defeat today.

Birmingham, who visit Middlesbrough, are level on 42 points while Aston Villa and Fulham are also breathing down their necks and, if results go against them, Newcastle could realistically drop to eighth.

A gap of four points could open up between Robson's men and the coveted fourth spot.

But victory would take them above Charlton at least and maintain the Magpies' Champions League challenge.

Robson said: "It's a monumental game. There are ten left, five home and five away. It's really tight and I think it's going to go on until the end of the season. I couldn't tell you which way it is going to go but ourselves, Charlton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Aston Villa and Fulham, we're all after that fourth spot and none of us will think we're out of the chase.

"Liverpool are like us. They have potential, but don't quite realise it.

"But I think there are about eight clubs all desperate to clinch fourth place and we'll all be fighting for it.

"It's going to be a great run-in and exciting, and you have to hold your nerve. We're facing a big challenge and the players know what it means - I've spelt it out to them.

"Is it there for the taking? It's proving tricky because all the teams involved are losing matches. It's going to be nail-biting and it proves that the depth of the Premiership this season has been extended.

"It's wonderful what Charlton have done. They won their last match at home to Middlesbrough 1-0, but they were a bit lucky from what I saw. I didn't expect the likes of Charlton and Birmingham to be up there, but I didn't think they'd be too far adrift either.

"In Paolo Di Canio, Charlton have a tricky, ingenious player and he needs to be marked well.''

Robson has injury worries and is waiting anxiously to see whether striker Craig Bellamy passes a fitness test on hamstring trouble.

But midfielder Kieron Dyer, who missed Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham, is ruled out with a similar problem and is battling to be fit for Thursday's UEFA Cup fourth-round second-leg trip to Real Mallorca.

Robson said: "We have a decision to make about Bellamy, but we won't play him if we think it's a risk and Shola Ameobi is on standby. Dyer was nowhere near being fit, but we'll work on him for the next game. Whether that's Mallorca or Bolton a week on Sunday, I don't know. But he heals well, like Bellamy, and we've got him running.'' Robson was also frustrated yesterday when on-loan striker Michael Bridges limped out of training with shin problems.

"We've pulled Bridges out of the squad and Michael Chopra comes in,'' said Robson. "I left Bridges out at Tottenham and asked him to play in the reserves on Monday to top up his fitness.

"The next day he had soreness like shin splints. The X-ray didn't show much, but he's come out of training because the shin was too painful. It's a blow because I was going to put him on the bench.''

But centre-back Titus Bramble has recovered from a knee injury after a scan revealed no serious damage.

Robson, meanwhile, declared it would be an "incredible'' feat if leaders Arsenal - unbeaten in all 28 Premiership games this season - were to go the entire campaign without losing a match.

The Gunners visit Newcastle on Easter Monday, and Robson said: "It would be the most incredible achievement if they did it.

"I think everyone wants a crack at them - we certainly do when they come here - but they have been too good for everyone this season.''