LEE BOWYER has been told by manager Sir Bobby Robson to get tough in a bid to kick-start his Newcastle United career.

Bowyer enjoyed his best display in a Newcastle shirt in the 1-0 win over Southampton on Saturday.

When the 26-year-old signed on at St. James' Park in the summer he arrived with a bad-boy reputation both on and off the pitch.

And Robson revealed it is that tag which has led to Bowyer, who was booked for a foul on Michael Svensson against the Saints, having a slow start on Tyneside.

The Magpies boss said: "He started as though he was trying to stay out of trouble. I said to him about ten days ago that he needed to be a bit meaner. We told him he had to start to put his foot in.

"He was tackling people against Southampton. Before he was getting so far and stopping and I thought he played very, very well.

"He had masses of energy and I was pleased with him. He had a fine match.

"He makes some great runs, his movement off the ball is great. He was doing that for years at Leeds. He is a goalscorer and Leeds got to know how to play with him, now we have to."

Centre-back Titus Bramble also received backing from Robson after the England Under-21 man, alongside Andy O'Brien, kept feared striking duo Kevin Phillips and James Beattie at bay.

Bramble made a complete hash of a clearance in the defeat to Arsenal eight days earlier, and Robson said: "Titus had a fine game at Arsenal, he just made one error. He has now done well against Beattie. He muscled in on him.

"Beattie is a tankish centre-forward and I said to Titus to get stuck into him. They have the same build.

"Titus did well in the air. He made one little error when Beattie turned him. He just has to cut them little blemishes out of his game.

"Titus has got the ability to go far. It is his attitude which will depend whether he goes there or not."

Robson revealed that Kieron Dyer is available for selection when Sven-Goran Eriksson announces his England squad this morning for this weekend's vital Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey.

Dyer appeared to hobble towards the end of Saturday's match, but Robson said: "He's fine. There's nothing wrong with him."

And the Newcastle boss hailed goalscorer Alan Shearer's display, he said: "I think Alan's performance was the best so far this season. Not because he has scored but because of his general overall performance.

"He chased people, he didn't play with his back to goal so much and he won some good headers.

"In tough difficult games his professionalism shines through."

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