NEWCASTLE United midfielder Robert Lee has urged his teammates to continue to show their battling qualities in a bid to maintain their place near the top of the Premiership.

The Magpies currently occupy a Champions League place and are three points clear of champions Manchester United in fifth place.

With a hectic festive period on the horizon, Lee is desperate to see his side maintain their challenge among the Premiership's elite.

"We've got some very, very tough games coming up and it's important not to lose," he said, knowing that they face six games between now and January 2.

"We might have a couple of draws in there, but with the likes of Leeds and Arsenal away then Blackburn at home coming up, we know it's not going to be easy.

"They are tough games, but if we can get through the Christmas period and find ourselves still in a European place then I'll be very pleased with that.

"The resilience we've been showing is very pleasing. Ipswich last weekend was a prime example.

"It wasn't a pretty game. We didn't play great football, but we battled."

Lee, who will start alongside Gary Speed at home to Blackburn tomorrow, had a transfer request earlier this season dismissed out of hand but he has never allowed his performances on the pitch to dip.

The 35-year-old admits he does not know how long he has left on Tyneside but, after spending nearly ten years at St James' Park, playing in front of the Toon Army is held extremely close to his heart.

Lee, signed by Kevin Keegan from Charlton in 1992 for a bargain £700,000, said: "I don't know when my last game for Newcastle is going to be.

"It could be in a week, it could be in six months, you never know.

"I've enjoyed myself enormously playing for this club and I still do. I'll play every game as though it's my last.

"I want to go out there and I want to win. I want Newcastle to do well.

"My situation hasn't changed, but as long as I've got a black and white shirt on, I'll do my best and try to win the game for Newcastle.''

Despite the Londoner, whose contract renewal will be discussed in January with the Newcastle board, knowing his career is coming to an end, he remains confident in his ability.

Lee and Speed have been a revelation in the centre of the park for Bobby Robson's men this season, and they have been major factors in the club's success.

But all the former England international is focused on is continuing in the same vein of form.

"They keep telling me I'm getting old, but I seem to be playing two a week quite comfortably,'' said Lee, whose side lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Worthington Cup on Wednesday.

"I feel fine. It's other people that are saying my legs are going and I'm getting too old.

"At the moment, I feel as well as I have ever felt, so I'll let other people talk about that."

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Robson received some good news yesterday when Premiership referee Rob Styles reversed Laurent Robert's booking for diving during the 1-0 win at Ipswich.

The Frenchman will now be available to play against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

It was expected the £10m man would miss the game, as the caution would have been Robert's fifth yellow card of the season, resulting in a one match ban.

*Nottingham Forest manager Paul Hart has dismissed reports that Jermaine Jenas is about to sign for Newcastle.

The England Under 19 international is known to be a target for both the Magpies and Leeds but Hart has revealed he has not had an offer for the midfielder.

"It's absolute nonsense," he said. "Newcastle have not even made a bid for J.J. and at the moment we are trying to do everything in our power to keep hold of the talented young players we have at the club."

* Kieron Dyer continued his recovery from injury with his second appearance inside 24 hours against Manchester City reserves last night.

Dyer was instrumental in last night's victory at high flying Manchester City which saw the Magpies move into second place in the Premiership Reserve League.

Jamie Coppinger scored the only goal of the game on 54 minutes when he beat the offside trap and placed the ball over the advancing Nicky Weaver.

The former England Under-21 keeper produced a series of fine saves to deny the Magpies further goals.

Dyer saw a first-half shot saved in style by the out of favour keeper and Michael Chopra was also denied by the agility of the City keeper.

City's best chance came in the second half when Killen struck the foot of the post, but the Newcastle defence marshalled by an outstanding Warren Barton were not to be breached and Coppinger could have added a second minutes from time but saw his shot hit the top of the bar.

Newcastle: Brain, Griffin, Quinn, Barton, Cowan, Kerr, Gavilan, Dyer (sub 70), Chopra (Ramage 60), Coppinger, McClen. Subs (not used) McGuffie, McMenamin, Boyd

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