NEWCASTLE United boss Sir Bobby Robson has told Laurent Robert he will be "hauled before the board'' if he talks out of turn again.

The £10m winger has effectively been put on a final warning after furious United chairman Freddy Shepherd rang Robson to complain about comments attributed to Robert in French daily L'Equipe.

Outspoken Robert was quoted as saying United "were in a state of crisis'' after a disappointing start to the season and defeat in both of their opening Champions' League games.

Robson, who has already chastised Robert for repeated outbursts on his personal website, confronted him at training yesterday morning. The former Paris St. Germain star strenuously denied he had made such comments, even when he was shown a copy of the article in question.

Ahead of today's game against Birmingham City at St. Andrews, Robson called a team meeting at which he warned all his players about the need to exercise discretion when speaking publicly.

And he confirmed: "I have spoken to Robert because the chairman rang me and he was angry - and he had every right to be angry.

"I support the chairman on this. Players are paid to play not to talk. Laurent told me there was nothing on his website, we've looked, and there isn't.

"He tells me he hasn't said those things. We've shown him the article and the quotes, and he doesn't know where it has come from.

"But what he has to be aware of is that the club won't put up with any player, let alone Laurent, speaking irresponsibly like that.

"If he does, he will be hauled before the board and I'll haul him there. He has to be responsible to this club and speak with intelligence, and show commitment. Anybody who doesn't will be in trouble.

"And I will recommend that the board meet those players. Most of the players here speak intelligently and constructively.

"But I've spelt the message out to all of them.

"Laurent is still free to speak, but he's aware of how angry the club are about an article which has his name to it, and that we won't tolerate that.''

Robert is expected to keep his place today, but there will be no Craig Bellamy in the United line-up. The Wales striker passed his driving test yesterday - but failed a fitness test.

Robson revealed that United are leaving him out to ensure he is fit for the rest of the season.

Bellamy, who underwent a knee operation at the end of last term, was feeling some discomfort after making only his fourth start in seven months in Tuesday's Champions' League 1-0 home defeat by Feyenoord.

With UEFA having subsequently handed down a three-match Champions' League ban for his headbutt on Dynamo Kiev's Tiberiu Ghioane in United's first Group E outing, Bellamy is out of next Tuesday's visit to Juventus.

Robson explained: "His knee is a bit sore and he's a bit tired. Having not played for seven months, there's a slight reaction.

"So we've pulled him out of the Birmingham game, which is sad, but we felt we had to do it.

"He can't play on Tuesday anyway, so our physios think that, if he doesn't play until next Saturday when we're at home to West Brom, he'll have had 11 days out and that will be enough time to get him right.

"We've forsaken one game to try to get him right for the rest of the season. But he's passed his driving test today - I didn't even know he didn't have a driving licence!''

Bellamy has shown contrition after being suspended for both games against Juventus and the return with Dynamo.

Robson said: "He's angry with himself for letting the club down. He's apologised verbally and written letters.''

Lomana LuaLua is poised to take Bellamy's place today, and Robson said: "At the start of the season when Craig wasn't ready to play, LuaLua played in a similar way to Craig and did well for us in most games.

"He came on for Craig against Feyenoord and could have saved us the game with the chance he had.

"But he's done very well. He's learning fast, but his better games have been at home and he has to learn to play the same way away from home. This is a massive game for us. We haven't had the best of starts and we can't afford to lose this one.''

Robson also admitted he has given midfielder Kieron Dyer a pep-talk. Dyer has been a little out of sorts lately, and Robson said: "I've had time with him on a personal issue and his play, and I'm happy he's OK in his head.''

Meanwhile, long-term injury victims Clarence Acuna and Carl Cort are both back in full training.

l Skipper Alan Shearer has added his weight to the case for the defence at Newcastle. The Magpies' rearguard have come under fire from Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano. But Kieron Dyer this week admitted that he, Robert and Solano were culpable for not showing more creativity and taking the onus off the defence.

And Shearer said. "The back four have come in for a lot of stick of late and unfairly in my opinion. We attack as a team and defend as a team.