ANGRY Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has called for the doom-mongers around St. James' Park to back Sir Bobby Robson's men to glory.

The Magpies' defeat at Tottenham on Sunday and victories for both Charlton and Liverpool have pushed United down to sixth in the Premiership - two places adrift of the final Champions League qualifying place.

And the battle for fourth place hots up tomorrow when the Addicks visit Tyneside in a vital Saturday night encounter.

Newcastle, knocked out of the FA Cup at an early stage, have won just two of their last six Premiership games - form which has allowed the teams below them to catch up.

Even Fulham in ninth place have a serious chance of finishing in the highly-coveted fourth place because of the failings of both Newcastle and Liverpool this season.

But Shepherd claims that the Geordie faithful have a lot to be thankful for - including being 4-1 up against Real Mallorca in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup ahead of next week's return leg.

And he is convinced Newcastle can secure a place in European club football's premier competition.

The chairman said: "Saturday is one of our most important games of the season and we have got to come out fighting.

"Some people are being negative about our position but I am not having any truck with that.

"We still have it all to play for and we still have a great set-up. We are in a great position to finish fourth and go through to the Champions League again and we are still in the UEFA Cup and we have nothing to apologise about.

"Don't forget that when we go to Mallorca next week it will be our 86th game in European competition and only half a dozen teams in the Premiership have played more than that.

"I know a lot of other teams who would love to have the players we have got here - both in quantity and quality.

"Geordies by nature are not negative people and if you think like a winner then you become a winner. I don't want any shrinking violets at St James' Park either on or off the park.

"I don't like whingers. What has happened in the past is in the past as far as I am concerned."

Newcastle look like being without striker Craig Bellamy against Charlton as the striker struggles to recover from a hamstring problem. Shola Ameobi is standing by.

The news of Bellamy's latest injury comes just as Newcastle head for another war of words with the player's country over his selection for a friendly.

Wales boss Mark Hughes has named the forward - along with midfielder Gary Speed - in his squad for the trip to Hungary on March 31.

Robson and Hughes have been at loggerheads a number of times over the selection of Bellamy, who has returned from international duty with injuries on a number of occasions.

And the Newcastle boss would ideally like to see Bellamy - who has missed a large chunk of the season with a serious knee injury - return to full fitness before donning the Wales shirt again.

But Hughes said: "Craig has come back into the Newcastle side in fine form and looks to have got over his injury problems.''

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