STRICKEN skipper Alan Shearer could be pressed back into action this season if Newcastle United are dragged towards the Premiership relegation mire.

United boss Bobby Robson is reluctant to risk the injured Shearer, who is ruled out for at least another three weeks after being told to rest a worrying knee problem.

But Robson yesterday admitted his hand may be forced if the Magpies' dramatic slump continues.

United visit bottom-of-the-table Bradford City today, having picked up only one point from the last five games.

And while Robson doesn't envisage being drawn into the relegation dogfight, he is eager to see his side stop the rot and finish the season with a flourish.

Striker Shearer, booked to make a return visit to Dr Richard Steadman's clinic in Vail, Colorado, next month for further tests on his left knee, is again walking freely and without pain.

But Robson said: "We have to get him completely right and if that means he doesn't play again this season, then so be it.

"It's a Catch-22 situation. We have to be careful and protect him, but Alan refuses to write off his season.

"As long as we get the best out of Carl Cort and Shola Ameobi and the other strikers at the club, we might not need him.

"But he has seen the fixture list and he is keen to pursue it. He's in a much better frame of mind. A lot depends on what happens in our upcoming games. We have to look at results and points and take it from there."

Robson has called on his players to show "honour, loyalty and pride" to halt the slide that has wrecked hopes of a UEFA Cup place.

He described the recent sequence of results as "depressing" and confessed to being deeply disappointed with his side's 25-match run without a clean sheet.

"That's never happened to me in my life and I wouldn't have believed it," said the former England boss. "We can't go on like that. It's down to the players.

"This club was 12 points ahead one season and couldn't win the championship. That's football.

"Now we're looking at the other end of the table and we have to get off the banana slide - before we fall off!"

New signing Andy O'Brien makes his debut against his former club with the warning: "Bradford won't chuck in the towel."

Centre-back O'Brien, a £2m signing in transfer deadline week, knows the visiting dressing room well at Valley Parade because he used to clean it out when he was a City apprentice.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international said: "I've got lots of mates there, like David Wetherall and Wayne Jacobs, but I don't expect any favours in this game.

"The table doesn't look too healthy for them, but they'll scrap all the way.

"I was there for five years and their fighting spirit was never in question."

But the 21-year-old defender added: "It won't worry me if I help to send them down because Newcastle are my club now."

Robson welcomed O'Brien's arrival and said: "He's young but he has played 50 games in the Premiership and has a big future.

"He has been very impressive this week and he's going to be a very handy signing."

Fellow central defender Aaron Hughes faces a late fitness test on his injured ankle and Robson will also assess the condition of winger Nolberto Solano following the jet-lagged Peruvian's return from World Cup duty.

Midfielder Robert Lee will lead United out in his 700th League and Cup game.

He said: "It's going to be a special day."

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