OLIVIER BERNARD has revealed the depth of feeling in the Newcastle dressing-room over Sir Bobby Robson's controversial decision to sell crowd favourite Nolberto Solano.

The hugely-popular Peruvian has joined Aston Villa in a £1.5m deal after nearly five-and-a-half years on Tyneside.

Robson has constantly been at loggerheads with Solano over the winger's determination to play for his country and miss key games with Newcastle.

Solano was substituted for the sixth successive game in the 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Liverpool a week ago.

It proved to be his last appearance for the Magpies and many fans feel Solano was always Robson's fall guy.

And Bernard spoke of the regret among the players that Solano had been sacrificed. "A lot of us are disappointed to see him go,'' said Bernard. "We like Nobby, he's a good player. We don't know what has happened.

"I'm happy for him and I hope he enjoys his time there. I have marked him in training and it would be a pleasure to mark him in a match (Newcastle visit Villa on April 17).

"Nobby is a clever player, one of the cleverest players I have seen. He is one of the best crossers in the Premiership. We are losing a big player."

Bernard might have been facing Solano today if Birmingham had beaten great rivals Villa to a deal.

Newcastle travel to St. Andrews hell-bent on atoning for their Cup exit - to ensure lightning doesn't strike twice.

Birmingham won the corresponding fixture on Tyneside in August by a solitary goal only three days after Partizan Belgrade had inflicted a catastrophic Champions League qualifying defeat on Robson's side at St. James' Park.

The Blues represent a threat to Newcastle's aim to secure fourth place in the Premiership and a return to Europe's prestige club competition.

Bernard said: "We had a pretty bad start, and that Birmingham game did not help.

"We lost after being beaten at home by Manchester United and knocked out of the Champions League - and we don't intend to lose to Birmingham after being knocked out of the FA Cup.

"We should have won that game against them. Now we have to respect them, but we need three points for fourth place.

"We are very disappointed after the Liverpool tie. Before that we had a great run. We have still got the UEFA Cup - why not go and win it? We will fight in the League and the UEFA Cup.

"I heard that's the last trophy we won, (formerly the Fairs Cup) in 1969. It's a long time since we have won anything.

"We keep trying to win things, but it doesn't go for us. We are focused on the Champions League - we need to get fourth place. Liverpool are playing well, but we will fight to the end and there is no hangover from last week.

"We had a first-team meeting to discuss the Liverpool game, but we know we didn't play well enough to beat them.''

Bernard has cemented his role at left-back this season and forged a dangerous link with fellow Frenchman Laurent Robert, who scored another sublime goal with a 78mph free-kick at Anfield.

"It is my best season for Newcastle,'' said Bernard. "Have I helped Laurent? He was a good player before. He has just improved because he has adapted to English football.

"Now everybody can see he can score important goals for us. He has the hardest shot at the club. Has he got the hardest shot in football? If not, he's not far off.

"I have heard nothing from France.

"There is an international coming up in two weeks. I don't know anything, I don't think anybody has come to see either of us.

"It might seem strange here, but if France are not sending anybody to watch us it's probably because they are strong enough.''

* Defender Gary Caldwell has left St James' Park and signed for Hibernian until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old negotiated a termination of his contract after it was confirmed he would not get a new deal at the end of the season.

Caldwell had a spell on loan at Easter Road in 2002 and said: ''I have made no secret of the fact that I love it at Easter Road and Hibernian are a good club with a great squad of young players.

''I've always said that should the opportunity arise to return here I would jump at it.''