SIR BOBBY ROBSON has told Jonathan Woodgate he can fill the breach in England's defence at Euro 2004 following Rio Ferdinand's eight-month ban for missing a drugs test, writes CLIVE HETHERINGTON.

Newcastle centre-back Woodgate is recovering from a hamstring injury and should return in the FA Cup third-round tie at Southampton a week tomorrow.

Woodgate, who Robson signed from Leeds for £9m nearly a year ago, now has the incentive of pressing his claims for a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad.

Robson said: "It must be in Jonathan's head. In the first half of our last home game against Spurs, he looked like the player we know him to be until he did his hamstring.

"I thought he did well in his first game back from his hernia against Manchester City, but as often happens when you have been out for a while, you pick up another injury.

"He's training hard again, he's fine and looking good. I don't know about Jonathan for Sunday when we play Blackburn here, it would depend whether I was pushed with double injuries to centre-halves after the Leicester game.

"But I think he's almost a certainty to be available for the Southampton tie and he'll want to play against Leeds here on January 7.''