Bobby to bury the hatchet with Solano - on Monday

The skilful winger has continually been at loggerheads with Robson over his international duties, with call-ups forcing Robson to rule him out of many domestic fixtures.

And, after Solano, 28, stormed out of the Riverside seven days ago following his non-selection in the Tees-Tyne derby, the Newcastle boss held showdown talks with his midfielder earlier this week.

The player was left behind when Newcastle made the trip to Fulham on Tuesday night and now he has been told to sit in the stands for this afternoon's match with Portsmouth at St. James' Park.

But despite the dispute, Robson has indicated he expects Solano - who was strongly linked with a switch to Scottish giants Celtic in the summer - to be with the club until his contract expires at the end of the 2005-06 campaign at least.

And the South American has been told to prove he is worth a recall for either the Carling Cup match with West Brom on Wednesday or the League match with Aston Villa a week today.

Robson explained: "It's a disciplinary thing which I've imposed on Nobby for this week. It's an internal matter which I've dealt with.

"On Monday morning, Nobby is back into the picture and up for selection like everybody else.

"He has a future here because he is under contract with us for another three or so years. On Monday he will be in training and he will be available for selection again, fighting along with everyone else for a place. Solano is one of this club's best players."

A victory for Newcastle against Portsmouth today should secure the Manager of the Month award for Robson, who was said to be on the verge of quitting not so long ago.

Sections of the Tyneside faithful had bizarrely began to turn on the 70-year-old after his side failed to win any of their opening seven Premiership fixtures.

But now, after four successive victories - including the 1-0 UEFA Cup success in Breda - Newcastle are tenth and within touching distance of the top six.

And Robson said: "I don't know how the resignation thing came about. That would have meant I jumped ship and I don't do that. That was outrageous and quite damaging.

"But since then we have done very well. We got a good result against Southampton after all the players had to play their games of their lives.

"It was back to the wall stuff against Middlesbrough and then we had to dig in against Fulham.

"The players have done very well to be focused, there's no doubt about it. During that time it's been quite lively but we have got results during a difficult period for the players.

"They have been focused and they have been marvellous about it because there's no doubt that performances on the pitch stem from things that are going on around you.

"Now we have got everybody talking about football again and that's important."

Robson has warned his players to maintain the high standards they have set themselves in recent weeks to ensure they do not slip back down the table.

"We have been gradually working our way through minefields, at the moment we have managed to do that. But the danger now is complacency," he said.

"I think that that was the problem against Fulham. We had been doing well in the games before that match and I think we just got a little complacent.

"We found ourselves two goals down after they made the most of a couple of errors. We have to make sure that when we go out on to a pitch we don't just take it easy. There's no other option but to win."

Newcastle centre-back Andy O'Brien has played his part in the club's October revival starting in all three Premiership wins.

And the former Bradford City man, whose understanding with Titus Bramble at the heart of a four man defence has grown stronger over the past few weeks, believes the talk of the manager resigning spurred the team on - claiming the fear acted as a boost to team spirit.

"To be honest none of us could believe the gaffer had to deny he was resigning," he said.

"It was the non-starter of all non-starters because he is the most enthusiastic person you could ever meet.

"The fact that he had to deny going gave us all a bit of a jolt. It certainly galvanised the team because we didn't want the boss being the scapegoat for our performances.

"The gaffer is an amazing person to work with and we could not believe he had to deny he was leaving.

"It was an unnecessary thing for him to have to do. It was a comment though on us as players and I think we have recovered a lot in the last month or so. We are not making so many silly mistakes and we are beginning to come together as a team."

Newcastle's opponents this afternoon have made an impressive start to life in the Premiership.

Pompey, who won the First Division last season, are a place above Newcastle but level on points - however, they are yet to win away from home.

Portsmouth are managed by their own experienced campaigners; Harry Redknapp is 56 and former Newcastle chief Jim Smith is 63 next month.

And Robson, 70, said: "They've done very well, Harry and Jim together, two old fogies.

"Well they are, but I say that very respectfully and warmly.

"They were clever enough to realise that the team that got them promotion wouldn't be the team that would save them in the Premiership, so they've made some changes, brought in some loan players and done some clever transfer deals.

"Patrik Berger is a good catch, Teddy Sheringham is a steal, so they've very much improved the side.

"Pompey know that they come here knowing whoever wins will go high in the table. Losing means that either side could be back down near the bottom."

Newcastle are again without the services of England midfielder Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Craig Bellamy (knee) and Jonathan Woodgate (hernia).

Dyer could return next Saturday, while Woodgate is still at least two weeks away from a return to action. Bellamy will not play again until the New Year.

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