NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson suspects skipper Alan Shearer has defied doctors orders in a determined effort to speed up his recovery from make-or-break knee surgery.

Quick-healer Shearer, who has confounded medical opinion down the years with rapid returns to action following serious knee and ankle injuries, is waiting to get the all-clear from specialist Richard Steadman to resume running this week.

But, in a light-hearted admission, Robson revealed his belief that the 30-year-old striker has already secretly put his tendinitis-ravaged left knee to the test.

Shearer, who had surgery at Christmas, underwent a second operation in early May at Steadman's clinic in Vail, Colorado, after breaking down only two games into his comeback.

But the latest progress report indicates the former England captain could be back in the Premiership fray before the end of August.

Robson said this week that Shearer felt "he might only miss a couple of early-season games'', which suggests he has a chance of being fit for the televised derby clash with Sunderland at St. James' Park on Sunday, August 26.

"Alan is still on hold, but he's hoping to get the go-ahead to start running at the end of this week,'' said Robson.

"Officially he isn't running yet - he's been told not to - but he might have already tried it privately and in secret.

"He doesn't seem to have any problems and hopefully, because of what he's saying, he'll play some reserve-team football and get some match practice in the first week in August before he starts in the first team.''

Robson, however, admits that £20m-rated schemer Kieron Dyer, who like Shearer has undergone two operations to correct a shin stress fracture, is unlikely to be seen again until September at the earliest.

"Dyer is going well and he doesn't feel any problem with the shin,'' stressed Robson. "He's swimming and doing some gentle work.

"But we said it was a six-month job and I don't think we'll get him fit before that period is up. He's a vital player and we can't have him breaking down.''

New £6m signing Craig Bellamy trained for the first time in a month following Achilles trouble when United reported back on Tuesday.

Robson confirmed: "He had a slight Achilles problem at the end of last season and he hadn't trained for a month.

"Coventry pulled him out of the Wales squad because he had tendinitis, but he's running and he seems fine.''

Robson will be praying striker Bellamy stays that way while Shearer and fellow frontman Carl Cort, who is expected to be out for a further two or three weeks after damaging ankle ligaments, battle for fitness.

Midfielder Robert Lee has pencilled in his testimonial match against Athletic Bilbao, on Saturday, August 11, for his comeback from knee surgery.

Robson said: "He had a clean-up of the joint near the end of last season. He's running again; he hasn't done any ballwork yet, but he's twisting and turning.

"He's got his testimonial coming up and he's desperately keen to be fit for that.''

Fellow midfielder Brian Kerr is out for two more months following shoulder surgery, but full-back Andy Griffin has recovered from a hernia operation and is training with the rest of the squad.

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