NEWCASTLE United will tie up the £4m signing of striker Victor Sikora from Vitesse Arnhem at the end of the season.

United boss Bobby Robson was reluctant to discuss the deal yesterday after personally vetting the 23-year-old Dutch international in Vitesse's 2-1 weekend win over De Graafschap.

Sikora failed to score but did enough to prompt Robson to initiate lengthy, late-night talks with the Arnhem president.

Sikora, likely to be one of four close-season signings, once played alongside former Nottingham Forest star Pierre van Hooijdonk with Vitesse.

Small, compact and quick, Sikora is seen as the perfect foil for Carl Cort and Alan Shearer.

Robson, who missed United's 1-0 home win over Leicester on Saturday to check on Sikora, refused to confirm his interest yesterday.

"I don't want to talk about targets and alert other clubs," he said.

"I can't disguise where I've been. We are looking at players, but it all depends on the market and the market at the moment is horrendous.

"I have picked up the phone lately and then slammed it back down when I've heard some prices.

"The board understands the situation and they will tell me how far I can go. To move to the next stage at this club, I've got to buy quality."

Scottish international Stephen Glass, meanwhile, will be playing for his future tonight when United bid to move closer to a place in the much-maligned Intertoto Cup by beating Southampton at St. James' Park.

Glass, who has pleaded to stay with United, made an impressive return against Leicester after almost eight months in the shadows.

But the 24-year-old winger's contract is up in the summer and Robson has given no indication that he will be offered a new deal.

Glass cost £650,000 from Aberdeen nearly three years ago, but has been plagued by injuries.

"We will look at his performance and I'm sure other clubs will be doing the same," said Robson.

"It's an opportunity for him and he will be rewarded for a decent performance at the weekend.

"I'm giving him a chance. He has barely played all season and you could say: 'Why now?' But I've had a good report from Mick Wadsworth and Glass is in the team.''

Rangers, who know they could sign Glass on a free transfer at the end of the season, are likely to be represented tonight

Robson confirmed he would welcome qualification for the Intertoto competition, which kicks off in mid-July.

"I wouldn't be afraid of that,'' he said. "If getting into Europe means playing in the Intertoto, I wouldn't say no.

"Europe is very important to a club of our size. It may not be the best way to go into it - the backdoor way - but I wouldn't be averse if we qualified because it would guarantee us competitive pre-season games."

Chelsea and Aston Villa would be Newcastle's rivals for the one Intertoto berth, if those clubs failed to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Robson is therefore anxious to see his side round off the season with a flourish and capitalise on their three home games, with Arsenal and Villa still to come in the final week of the campaign.

"We want to finish in the top eight if possible and I won't tinker with the squad too much," said Robson, whose side climbed to tenth with Saturday's victory, which witnessed their first clean sheet in 30 games.

Andy O'Brien is ready to defy the discomfort of a hip strain to keep his place tonight.

Robson yesterday hailed O'Brien's central defensive partner Nikos Dabizas as "a warrior'' for the way the Greek international has played since making a remarkable recovery from a cruciate ligament injury which was expected to sideline him for a year.

"He's a warrior,'' said Robson. "He's gone from being an injured old soul to being fantastically competitive.''

l Alan Shearer will learn today whether he needs further knee surgery.

Shearer has flown to Vail, Colorado, for another consultation with leading specialist Dr Richard Steadman, and has been told that an operation would rule him out for four months. "If the surgeon decides Alan needs an operation, he will have it on Wednesday," said Robson.

"We are looking at the end of August, but I wouldn't bet against him being available for the start of next season."

l Southampton will give fitness tests to defender Dean Richards and Dan Petrescu before naming their side tonight, writes JACK LESLIE.

Petrescu has missed the last two matches with a groin strain while Richards sustained a knee injury during the home defeat by Sunderland at the weekend. Petrescu is rated as doubtful, but Richards is expected to be able to take his place in a team which has failed to score in the five matches since Glenn Hoddle left for Tottenham.