RELIEVED Kieron Dyer was last night given the all-clear in his bid to return to full fitness quickly.

The Newcastle United midfielder received the good news after hearing the results of a scan on the back injury that forced him to withdraw from the England squad earlier this week.

But, despite the encouraging results, Dyer could still miss tomorrow's Premiership clash at Blackburn Rovers, meaning a return to action next Wednesday in the Champions' League match with Juventus.

Dyer has undergone some intensive treatment at St. James' Park since returning from international duty and he will train with the Magpies today.

There were fears he had sustained an injury similar to the one Laurent Robert sustained during the summer - a fractured vertebrae in his lower back, which kept him out for six weeks.

But Newcastle chief Sir Bobby Robson said: "There's no problem with the scan. He's still having a few problems where he has been having the spasms.

"The pain is diminishing and we will check him in the morning. If he is free from pain he will play, if he's not free he won't.

"He has not trained for a few days but the younger you are the younger you recover. We are still hopeful that he will be fit and we have not written him off.

"There's nothing on the scan and that can be put out of his head and we will see how he is."

Robson also revealed that summer signing Titus Bramble is in contention for a recall to the starting line-up at Ewood Park tomorrow after impressing for the England Under-21s.

Centre-back Andy O'Brien, who had to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad last weekend, has shrugged off a hamstring injury and Robson must decide whether he is match-fit after only returning to training yesterday.

And should the Magpies boss decide the Irishman is not fit, Robson is convinced Bramble can fill the void despite not playing for the first team since the Leeds United defeat in September.

"Andy trained without problems and without the hamstring tightening," said Robson. "We have given him an extra day to see how he is and he's got a chance.

"If he's fit he'll play and if he's not he won't.

"Young Bramble played well for the Under-21s. We had him watched and he was outstanding. He never made a mistake and that's what we want.

"Nikos Dabizas is suspended for the European tie against Juventus on Wednesday anyway, so we'll just have to choose and pick."

l Manchester City have parted company with Laurent Charvet by mutual consent.

The 29-year-old signed a four-year deal with the Maine Road outfit after a £1m move from Newcastle in October 2000.

He was a regular member of former boss Joe Royle's side during City's last Premiership season, although there were rumours of a fall-out with the Frenchman after he suffered an Achilles injury. Charvet featured in the first three matches of last season but did not make another appearance.

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