NEWCASTLE boss Sir Bobby Robson has admitted that he 'ran the rule' over Middlesbrough's star striker Massimo Maccarone before the Italian put pen to paper at the Riverside.

Sir Bobby had Boro's £8.15m record signing watched in March this year when the 23-year-old starred in the Italian Under-21s 1-1 draw against their English counterparts at Bradford's Valley Parade.

Maccarone scored that night, and then 24 hours later came off the bench for the full Italian national side to win an injury-time penalty that allowed them to beat England 2-1 at Elland Road.

But the Magpies didn't follow up their interest, believing they had enough strength in depth in the forward department.

Robson, who sends out his team against Boro tonight in the Tyne-Tees derby, did however admit to still being a fan of the former Empoli player.

He said: "Maccarone has been a splendid buy. I've seen him twice this season and I've been impressed with him.

"He's got clever control, pace, he beats people and he looks like a goalscorer.

"I was aware of him when he played for the Italian Under-21s here in England. We had him watched that day."

Robson was also full of praise for Steve McClaren's Riverside revolution that have seen Boro become a Premiership force - a change he puts down to their buys over the summer.

"They've dramatically improved," said Robson.

"They were goal-shy last year - they just didn't score enough goals.

"They've made some acquisitions in the summer which have been of benefit to the side.

"Queudrue has settled in at left-back, Nemeth is doing much better now and Job has restored a little of the reputation he had when they first bought him."

Robson will however send a less than full-strength side out tonight hoping to make it five wins for the Magpies from their last six Premiership games.

Titus Bramble is a definite non-starter with a hamstring injury, and Andy O'Brien is rated 50:50 after suffering back spasms.

Nikos Dabizas is suspended following his sending-off at Blackburn, which means Spanish misfit Marcelino and Steve Caldwell come into contention.

Up front Shola Ameobi is expected to continue to deputise for Craig Bellamy, but Robson did have some reassuring words for injury-plagued £7m man Carl Cort

Robson said: "I still believe in Corty, but we've got to get him back on the pitch playing.

"He was out of the last game because he got a hamstring after his match when we played at Liverpool (Reserves) and won.

"We left him out against Aston Villa (Reserves) but I still believe in him.

"We paid a lot of money for him and he's at the age when he should be a good player."