KIERON Dyer is ready to get his career back on track and he is targeting a place in England's World Cup squad next summer.

The Newcastle United midfielder has finally shrugged off shin-related injuries and after making his comeback in his club colours he is desperate to stake his claim for an international shirt.

But Dyer, who has been out since February, knows that there is a long way to go before he can be considered for a call-up to Sven Goran Eriksson's squad.

The 22-year-old, who came on for the last ten minutes at Ipswich on Sunday, has been touted as a solution to England's problem left side.

And he said: "I've got six months now before the World Cup.

"I'm not stupid. It will take me seven to eight games to get back anywhere near to the form I showed last season.

"But there isn't an England friendly until February and the games come thick and fast in December. The ball is in my court and I'm confident in my ability."

Dyer knows if he performs well for the rest of the season he could be on the plane to Japan and South Korea.

The former Ipswich schemer is delighted that he has taken his first steps back in the Premiership, and he is hopeful of fulfilling a World Cup dream.

"Every player wants to play in a World Cup and to win the World Cup. I'm no different. I'm in a position where hopefully I can do that. It's all up to me,'' he admitted.

After coming back from his injury hell he revealed that he hopes to follow Newcastle striker Alan Shearer's example of regaining full fitness.

"He's come back from a number of injuries after being written off," said Dyer.

"But he's still won the golden boot and scored 30 goals so you just have to look at him as a role model to see what he's achieved, despite his injuries. That gives you heart."

Dyer's in-form teammate Shay Given is determined to see Newcastle continue their miserly ways at Chelsea tomorrow night.

An impressive defensive performance at Portman Road ensured the Magpies held on to take all the points with a 1-0 win.

And Given believes that if Newcastle keep another clean sheet at Stamford Bridge, a Worthington Cup semi-final place is not out of reach.

"We will need to make sure that we continue to be solid at Chelsea because they have got some very good players and some great strikers," said the Republic of Ireland No 1.

"It will be hard but hopefully we can come out on top.

"I want to keep more clean sheets than I am doing at the moment.

"And if we are going to win at Chelsea on Wednesday then we are going to need a display like the one we gave at Ipswich."

Should Newcastle win in London it will end an incredible run of 28 games without a victory in the capital.

But Bobby Robson's side are sitting pretty in fourth position in the Premiership and confidence will be high going into the clash.

Given insists that the Newcastle backline will have taken great heart from their display against the Tractor Boys at the weekend.

"The lads played very well in front of me," said the 25-year-old.

"There's been a lot of talk about the need for us to be more solid away from home and I think we saw that at Ipswich.

"I hope we have given the defence a bit of confidence as well.

"I feel as though I am playing well and it's always nice that when I am called upon I can make important saves. But the lads did not make me work too much."

Robson has voiced his concerns over an apparent clampdown on diving.

The 68-year-old manager insists referees must be sure that a player is play-acting before handing out a yellow card.

Robson, reacting to news that officials could soon be urged to issue a booking even if they have doubts, said: "We don't want cheats.

"Like every manager, we tell the players not to dive but to stay on their feet.

"But referees have to be sure and know what they're doing. Is it a dive? If the answer is yes, then book him. If it's no, then don't get your yellow card out.

"The onus is on the referees to make a difficult decision. But would you like to be hung if you didn't murder the guy just because someone thought you did?

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