NEWCASTLE United have turned again to the man who saved Alan Shearer's career in a bid to fast-track Craig Bellamy back to fitness.

United are in constant contact with Colorado-based knee specialist Richard Steadman, who operated on Shearer ten months ago to cure the former England skipper of tendinitis.

Steadman is being consulted as United boss Bobby Robson looks to speed up Bellamy's return after the £6m striker tore a knee tendon in the derby victory at Sunderland three weeks ago.

United were told that Bellamy could be out for six weeks, but the Welsh international now has a chance of being available for the Good Friday visit of Everton.

Steadman, who has also operated on Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy, Liverpool's Jamie Redknapp and, most recently, Leeds' former Sunderland striker Michael Bridges, performed minor surgery on Newcastle frontman Carl Cort in early December.

A little over 12 weeks later, Cort made his comeback after nearly ten months on the sidelines.

Robson is now hoping Steadman's guidance will lead Bellamy back into action sooner rather than later.

The Magpies' manager said: "Craig is progessing every day. The pain has gone and he's walking and doing well.

"I'm trying to encourage my medical staff to push on, but they're a bit reticent about that.

"I understand their problems - I just wish they understood mine!

"We won't rush Craig, but we know what he means to us. We're in touch with Dr Steadman, the expert on tendons who operated on Alan and recently Michael Bridges.

"In conjunction with what Steadman is telling us, we're doing the right thing with Craig. He is allowing us to push him on a bit and see if there is any reaction.

"Any doubt that might occur through pushing him on, then it's full stop. But we're trying to get him fit as soon as we can.''

Robson, however, has already discounted Bellamy for this Saturday's high noon FA Cup quarter-final replay with Arsenal at Highbury.

Meanwhile, Robson has admitted that Newcastle are closing in on a permanent deal for on-loan defender Sylvain Distin.

The giant stopper has operated in central defence and at left-back since he joined the Geordies from Paris St. Germain last September.

Robson had talks with United chairman Freddy Shepherd last week. He said: "We've spoken about Sylvain and the chairman knows what I think about him.

"He's done very well for us and I think the chairman will do something about completing a deal.

"Sylvain can't go anywhere else, he's on loan with us until the end of the season and there's an agreed figure between the clubs. The boy likes it here and we like him very much.''

Robson will be well-stocked in central defence if he also makes a move for Ipswich's £10m-rated England Under-21 international Titus Bramble.

The Newcastle boss is understood to be keen to raid his old club for 20-year-old colossus Bramble, who is also attracting the attention of Chelsea and Liverpool.

But any deal hinges on whether Ipswich are relegated from the Premiership

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