NEWCASTLE boss Bobby Robson was yesterday seeking clear-the-air talks with West Ham counterpart Glenn Roeder after admitting he was "hurt and distressed'' by claims that he tried to unsettle winger Trevor Sinclair.

Former Newcastle skipper Roeder rounded on his old club when news of a written £6m bid for Sinclair was leaked - after the Hammers' manager had told Robson the player wasn't for sale.

Roeder said: "You never know how these stories slip out, but you have to ask the question about the club concerned. Maybe they felt it was in their interests to let something like this slip.''

And as the row rumbled on yesterday, Robson rapped: "My reputation and credibility was attacked today and it rather hurt and distressed me because you know I don't do business in that way.

"I never have done and never will. I would never discuss club business with you (the media) until it's completed.

"I understand West Ham are angry and I have a certain amount of sympathy for Glenn Roeder, a young manager thrown into the circus.

"I understand how he feels and we did have words together yesterday, and I need to talk to him again today.''

Robson has endured a summer fraught with disappointment and frustration.

The 68-year-old former England boss found himself at odds with another rookie manager, Southampton's Stuart Gray, after head coach Mick Wadsworth was lured away from St. James' Park for a similar post with the Saints.

And Robson's transfer moves have been restricted to the £6m signing of striker Craig Bellamy from Coventry and free-transfer return of left-back Robbie Elliott, who was at the end of his contract with Bolton.

Ambitious attempts to land £10m Paris St. Germain schemer Laurent Robert and £7m Barcelona winger Boudewijn Zenden have stalled.

But Robson remains optimistic that he can attract more signings before the Premiership season kicks off in a month's time.

"I have ideas and we are working on those ideas,'' he said. "I keep in touch with the chairman (Freddy Shepherd) and he knows what I want. I'm still confident I can get players into this club. We will buy sensibly and pay good money for good players.

"The board know we need to strengthen our squad. I've told them that in strong terms and they're well aware of it. We will try to do something about it.

"The season has not begun yet and there's still time. We've got money to spend and I want to spend it. I don't want it in the bank. I want my assets to be on the pitch, not in the bank.

"We have to put what money we have on the pitch. We will find the players.''

Robson is without eight senior men for tonight's Intertoto Cup third round, second leg visit of Sporting Lokeren.

The game is an academic exercise, with United 4-0 up from the first leg in Belgium a week ago.

Alan Shearer, Carl Cort, Kieron Dyer, Robert Lee, Clarence Acuna and Brian Kerr are all still on the injured list, which has lengthened with the loss of Andy O'Brien and goalkeeper John Karelse.

Centre-back O'Brien, who missed the first game with ankle trouble, suffered a setback in training this week.

The good news for Robson is that skipper Shearer is up and running in his fight to overcome a long-standing tendinitis problem in his left knee.

Robson confirmed: "Alan Shearer is going well and been given permission to run and jog.

"He's building up his heartbeat because he hasn't done any running for several months. He's in the throes of a painful ordeal but will come through it without any trouble.

"He's looking really good and very sound. We are not pushing him. The message from the surgeon is to take as long as it takes and we have to put the brakes on him.''

Dyer, who like Shearer underwent two operations, is also making headway. "Kieron is doing very well,'' said Robson.

"He'll have an x-ray next week and once it proves the shin bone is intact and strong, he will start full training. It would be foolish if he got a crack before the x-ray shows he's fine. In fact, we've had to put the brakes on him more than Shearer!''

Even though the Magpies' Intertoto progress is all but a foregone conclusion, there will still be in excess of 20,000 at tonight's game.

"We have more than 20,000 tickets sold and I'm not surprised,'' said Robson. "I know our public and I know what it means to them. I'm delighted they have responded and that's why we have to play a pretty strong team and make sure the tie is safe.

"If I mixed it up and we lost 2-0, it wouldn't do anybody any favours, so I'm not going to do it.

"The object is to qualify for the next round. The players are still working for their fitness - the next match will be tougher, so we need to be better.''

Newcastle chief scout Charlie Woods will be in Munich to see 1860 defend a 2-1 first-leg lead against Holland's RKC Waalwijk, with the winners set to face Robson's side in the semi-finals.

Robson added: "I would have done somersaults if we had won 1-0 in Lokeren. The way we played was a delight and a surprise - it went better than I thought.

"The Intertoto won't do us any harm and, if we get through it all, it will do us a lot of good.

"We had nothing to lose by entering.''

Read more about Newcastle here.