FRUSTRATING French winger Laurent Robert is set to pay for his non-display in Newcastle United's Champions League defeat by Barcelona.

Magpies manager Sir Bobby Robson was driven to despair as Robert was put to shame by a Dutch master-class from Barca's Marc Overmars at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.

Robson is now ready to demote Robert to the bench for today's game at Southampton, where United are seeking their first win in 30 years.

Robson, who paid £9.5m for Robert in the summer of last year, admits the former Paris St. Germain star usually knows where he is going forward.

But when it comes to tracking back, the 27-year-old is completely lost.

Robson said: "When you play Laurent, sometimes you wish you hadn't. And when you don't play him, you wish you had!

"He can be great going forward and we want him to run at players, but defensively he can be frustrating.

"I have talked to Laurent more than I have talked to any other player in my managerial career in an attempt to get the best out of him."

Robson, who has already dropped Robert and fellow winger Nolberto Solano this season, said: "Laurent can take a leaf out of Marc Overmars' book because he plays his football at both ends of the pitch."

Newcastle have picked up a paltry three wins in 40 visits to Southampton stretching back almost 105 years.

But with ex-Saints star Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy back after serving European bans, Robson is confident of emerging with at least a point against a side who have developed a formidable reputation at their new St. Mary's base.

Robson added: "We came out of Barcelona without any fresh injuries. I just have to decide whether we change the team in one or two positions. I would expect Shearer and Bellamy to be very much involved.

"The Dell used to be a very intimidating place and Southampton have carried on with that at their new home.

"They've based their long stay in the Premiership on excellent home form."

Newcastle's defence, who looked so suspect again in the 3-1 setback in Barcelona, are faced with the task of stopping James Beattie, the Premiership's leading scorer.

The Saints striker has emerged from a troubled last 12 months to lead the goal chart with 11 this season.

Beattie, 24, was Shearer's boot boy earlier in the Newcastle skipper's career, and has blossomed into a potential England star.

Robson added: "He's come on a lot during the last 18 months and has made some big improvements in his game.

"He has always been a big, strong, bustling player, but lacked finesse.

"He has added that to his game and has an instinctive sense of knowing where the ball will be in the area. He's making himself a goalscorer now.

"He takes the penalties, so that shows he's a confident player. Gordon Strachan knows him better than me and he says he's maybe not ready for England yet, but possibly in the future.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson will be concerned about getting the right partner for Michael Owen, because Emile Heskey does it sometimes and on other occasions he doesn't. Beattie is an option if he continues to score goals.

"He's a bigger guy than Alan Shearer and has learned to play with his back to goal, which is a vital part of a centre-forward's game.

"He can hold it up and has good movement.

"Before, he used to spoon chances, but he doesn't do that now. He seems to know where the goal is and he's a much better player than he was.''

Robson, meanwhile, gave a vote of confidence to goalkeeper Shay Given after his shaky display in Spain.

"He's still a fine keeper and did very well at Aston Villa last week, when he looked unbeatable,'' said Robson.

"But his positional sense is something he needs to concentrate on.

"The first Barcelona goal went through the middle of the goal, so he's just got to look at his positional game. I'll talk to him about that."

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