BOBBY ROBSON last night identified Craig Bellamy as the key ingredient that had been lacking in his recipe for success at Newcastle.

Bellamy, whose enthusiastic celebrations almost sparked a touchline fracas with Manchester United's Gary Neville and David Beckham at the end of Saturday's sensational 4-3 Newcastle victory, ran the champions ragged with his searing pace.

The £6m summer signing from Coventry embarrassed French international centre-back Laurent Blanc, who simply couldn't cope with the fleet-footed Wales striker.

Robson failed in an attempt to land 22-year-old Bellamy from Norwich just over a year ago, when he instead moved to Highfield Road for £5m.

But the Sky Blues' relegation last season, coupled with Bellamy's indifferent form, paved the way for a deal to be resurrected.

Magpies boss Robson said: "He didn't have the best of seasons at Coventry and I was quite happy about that. When we watched him play he looked a bit iffy and I thought he might become available again.

"I knew about Craig when he was at Norwich from my old Ipswich contacts and what I've seen in him over the last two or three years is that he's quick and he likes the ball to be played over the top.

"We didn't have a player like that before; Alan Shearer isn't that sort of player, neither was Duncan Ferguson nor Temuri Ketsbaia, and Carl Cort isn't either.

"What we needed was a quick player who can play off a striker, someone who looks to spin and get in behind defenders. That's what Craig did against Blanc.''

Newcastle first-team coach John Carver was forced to step in and restrain England right-back Neville after Bellamy, who had been taken off in the last minute of an unforgettable St. James' Park clash, emerged from the dug-out in ebullient mood on the final whistle.

The atmosphere was already highly-charged after the stoppage-time dismissal of Red Devils skipper Roy Keane for hitting out at counterpart Shearer.

Carver also prevented Newcastle players from going down the tunnel until the visitors had made their way to the dressing room.

A Newcastle source, who witnessed the incident, said: "The Manchester United players did not look to be in the best of moods. Gary Neville and David Beckham seemed to take offence at the way Craig was celebrating after he came out of the dug-out.

"They went towards him and John Carver restrained Neville. John then kept the Newcastle players back until the Man. United players had gone in.''

Meanwhile, Newcastle midfielder Robert Lee expects to be fit for Sunday's game against boyhood heroes West Ham at Upton Park, after taking a blow in the kidneys from Keane in a robust first-half challenge.

Lee, who scored Newcastle's second goal minutes earlier, failed to appear for the second half but yesterday insisted: "I'll be back in training before the end of the week.'

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