FOOTBALL is bracing itself for a fresh poaching controversy after Bobby Robson revealed that Newcastle United are reporting a rival Premiership club for an alleged illegal approach to Frenchman Olivier Bernard.

Only two weeks after Liverpool became the first Premiership club to be found guilty of tapping a player, Robson warned that United will demand action over Bernard.

The 22-year-old left-back, who joined the Geordies on a free transfer early last season after winning a legal battle to secure his release from Lyon, is out of contract this summer and reported to have rejected a new two-year deal.

United boss Robson said: "There's a story which says he's leaving the club, but we know nothing about that.

"We've offered him a very good contract for his age, quality and position and he's thinking about it.

"But we know he's been tapped by another Premiership club. We're not saying who the club are, but we feel very strongly about it and we will be reporting that club through the proper channels.''

Middlesbrough are taking Liverpool to the High Court in a bid for major compensation after the Anfield club were found guilty by a Premier League disciplinary commission of an illegal approach to Christian Ziege.

The German star, now with Tottenham, exercised an escape clause in his contract with Boro and won a court fight to clinch a £5.5m to Liverpool in August 2000.

Liverpool were fined £20,000 and Ziege was fined £10,000 by the commission.

But Robson insisted that the guilty verdict against Liverpool had not prompted United's decision to act over the approach for Bernard, who had a spell on loan at Darlington last season .

"I hadn't even thought about that and I don't want to comment on it,'' said Robson. "That's nothing to do with me - that's between the two clubs.''

Robson also plans clear-the-air talks with Kieron Dyer after suggestions that the United midfielder was angry and disappointed after being barred from playing for England in their friendly defeat by Italy at Elland Road on Wednesday night.

Dyer played his first 90 minutes for nine weeks in last Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final exit at Arsenal after recovering from a foot stress fracture.

But United were told by their medical team that two games in a week was too much at this stage for the £20m-rated star.

Robson said: "I'll have to have a word with Kieron. He joined up with England firmly aware that he was going to be allowed to train with England for two days so that Sven-Goran Eriksson could see him.

"Sven and I agreed that when we met at the Arsenal game. There was never any intention of Kieron playing for England and I don't think he has any right to be angry - he understood the position.

"He'd been out for two months and he did wonderfully well at Arsenal, but he's been told not to play two matches in a week during his first two weeks back.''

Robson, meanwhile, has more injury worries for today's home game against Everton, with double trouble in central defence.

Nikos Dabizas and Andy O'Brien only returned to training yesterday after withdrawing from international duty with Greece and the Republic of Ireland respectively with ankle injuries.

Robson said: "They were both injured at Arsenal and haven't trained since. They're getting their boots on for the first time on the training pitch, so I've got a problem with those two.

"They might be OK, but I've got Steve Caldwell and Robbie Elliott to come in if they're not.''

For centre-back Caldwell, it would be a testing first game this season against in-form United old boy Duncan Fergsuon.

"We know Duncan well,'' said Robson, who sold the giant Scottish striker back to Everton for £4m over 18 months ago.

"He's a fearless and fearful player and we have to respect him. When he and Alan Shearer played here together two seasons ago, they were awesome.

"Duncan is a difficult customer when he's on form.''

Fourth-placed United are searching for their first win in six games as they attempt to hold on to a Champions' League place.

They also have home games to come against Fulham, Charlton and West Ham, but Robson said: "We've got a nice programme on paper, but there are no formalities and nothing is easy - you saw what happened to Manchester United last Saturday at home to Middlesbrough.

"The championship is not decided - the first six places are up for grabs. We're not looking down, we're looking up.''

Hamstring victim Gary Speed misses the date with his old club and isn't expected to be available until the Magpies face Fulham on Monday week.

But striker Craig Bellamy is close to a return after knee tendon trouble. Robson said: "He's almost ready. I anticipate he'll return for the game at Aston Villa on Tuesday.''

Robson responded dismissively to reports that Bellamy is interesting Roma and could be a £20m target for the Italian giants.

He said: "I don't know when they've been watching him - he's been out for five weeks. They must have been watching the wrong player!''

Fellow striker Shola Ameobi faces up to six weeks out after undergoing a cartilage operation.

Robson said: "He's doing very well. He was operated on last Friday, but he's walking already.

"He'll be out four to six weeks, but I told him that, in my day, you had three weeks in bed and didn't play for three months.''

Newcastle squad: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin, S. Caldwell, Elliott, Solano, Dyer, Jenas, Acuna, Shearer, Cort, Robert, Bernard, LuaLua, Kerr, Quinn, Harper.

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