NEWCASTLE United are bracing themselves for an escalation in their war of nerves with defender Marcelino.

United insiders admit there is a growing feeling at St James' Park that the Spanish flop won't report back for pre-season training next week.

Marcelino, a £5m-plus Ruud Gullit signing two years ago, was ordered to find himself a new club when he returned home to Spain at the end of last season.

Accused of being a malingerer by some fans, the injury-prone centre-back said he felt "humiliated'' at the way he had been treated by manager Bobby Robson.

The United boss hit back by saying Marcelino should be "ashamed'' of his record at Newcastle - 19 starts out of 95 games - and demanded he apologise for his outburst.

Now there is every chance of a stand-off, with no club having so far shown any firm interest in the player. And if Marcelino fails to turn up back on Tyneside next week, he faces a massive club fine.

A United source said: "We don't know that he will return and there's a feeling he won't.''

Meanwhile, Robson's is ready to redouble his efforts to land a left-sided midfielder after Stephen Glass agreed to join Gianluca Vialli's Watford on a free transfer. Robson had hoped to tie up the £7m signing of Barcelona's Boudewijn Zenden, but the Dutch World Cup winger is now considering other offers.

l United have confirmed that their Intertoto Cup third-round, second leg game at St. James' must go ahead on Saturday, July 21 - with a 7pm kick-off.

United wanted to switch the game because of a clash with Newcastle's 'Love Parade', an event to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

But despite representations from the FA, UEFA insisted United play on the Saturday so that the match coincides with a European lottery.

United will face either Sporting Lokeren, from Belgium, or Polish side Zaglebie Lubin. The first leg of their second-round tie is in Poland on Sunday, July 1, with the return the following Saturday.

Newcastle will visit the winners on the weekend of July 14/15.

Read more about Newcastle here.