SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night offered an olive branch to Spanish misfit Marcelino, surprisingly labelling his £6m defensive flop as an 'honest professional'.

With injuries and suspensions threatening to deprive the Newcastle manager of three centre-halves for Monday's Tyne-Tees derby, Robson said he would have no qualms about throwing Marcelino back into the fray.

Titus Bramble is expected to be out for three weeks with a hamstring tear, Nikos Dabizas misses the game through suspension after being sent off against Blackburn, and Andy O'Brien is rated as 50/50 after suffering back spasms in the game against Kiev last Tuesday.

The former Spain international has not played for the first-team since a substitute appearance in Robert Lee's testimonial against Athletic Bilbao back in August 2001 - when he was roundly booed by the Magpies' faithful.

His last competitive appearance for Newcastle was against Charlton Athletic at the Valley in February last year, when Sir Bobby's men were soundly beaten by the Addicks in a 2-0 debacle.

The St James' Park crowd have not forgiven the £18,000-a-week centre-back for a string of below par performances, and seemingly minor ailments that have kept him on the sidelines.

But a defiant Robson said: "I'm serious about Marcelino - he has played very well for the Reserves, he's in good shape and he's very experienced.

"What I like about Marcelino is that he's had a very good attitude about it all.

"He hasn't given up his last year as though to say 'I don't want to be seen ever again'.

"He's been an honest professional and he knows he's being paid a salary here and he's trying to earn that salary."

Earlier this year the seemingly exasperated Magpies were exploring legal avenues for a way to sack the injury-plagued defender without having to settle up the remainder of his multi-million pound contract, which expires next summer.

Marcelino - hailed by former boss Ruud Gullit as among the best in Europe when he signed the defender - has started only 15 Premiership games since joining from Real Mallorca more than three and a half years ago.

He has suffered ailments including a dislocated finger, sore thighs and viruses.

With the 31-year-old's appalling injury record appearing to frighten off potential buyers, it was expected that Newcastle would simply allow him to finish his contract as a Reserve-team regular then simply walk away from Tyneside.

In the past chairman Freddy Shepherd called in the player and his agent for showdown talks which have had no effect.

And Robson himself has blasted Marcelino after the Spaniard claimed he had been "humiliated" by his treatment at the club. The defender said at the time: "I sometimes feel as though I have had a lack of support."

Angry Robson replied: "How dare he say those things? I have tried to encourage him to get fit and how he can complain about his treatment I will never, never know. He has lost the support of the fans."

But yesterday Robson said: "We obviously have Aaron Hughes who can play centre-back, and we have the choice of Robbie Elliott, Marcelino, and young Caldwell.

"Marcelino hasn't complained about playing for the Reserves and he's played all the games we want him to play.

"It just shows you that he might now get a chance.

"By playing for the Reserves and getting his match fitness and being part of the club again, it might break for him.

"He could be a very useful player for us if that's my choice. He's certainly the most experienced player for us in that position."

If O'Brien doesn't make it on Monday Marcelino would appear to be a genuine candidate for the derby.

But Robson was still hoping his Republic of Ireland international would be fit.

"I don't rule him out," said Sir Bobby about the former Bradford City centre-back.

"He's better today and he's still got Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday so don't rule him out."