ANDY Griffin yesterday backed Newcastle's young guns to do the job if boss Bobby Robson fails to find a replacement for Alain Goma before Thursday's transfer deadline.

The Geordies plan to increase their efforts to land Bradford defender Andy O'Brien despite having a £2m bid rejected, after Goma completed his £4m move to Fulham.

But fullback Griffin reckons Newcastle have enough in reserve to see them through whatever the outcome of Robson's immediate signing plans.

And he insisted: "We have the players here to cope.

"The back four had an average age of 22 when we played at Everton in our last game, and we were robbed of a clean sheet by a refereeing decision.

"It bodes well for the future of the club when lads like Steve Caldwell, Aaron Hughes and Wayne Quinn are in the side - and Steve's younger brother Gary is knock on the door as well."

Griffin, 22 last week, has started Newcastle's last two games and is eager to savour tomorrow's atmosphere against Middlesbrough.

"I've never started a derby game and apart from coming on at the end against Middlesbrough last season I've never played in one either," he confessed.

"Hopefully I'll get the chance to put that right on Saturday."

l Alan Shearer has seen a specialist for the third time in six days as fears grow over the knee injury that could wreck his season.

Shearer is still waiting for a verdict on the extent of the damage that followed a training ground setback last Saturday.

"I feel so useless because I'm just hanging about," said the Toon skipper yesterday.

"All I can do is set tight and see what the specialist says. My knee has improved but it's still not right yet."

l Newcastle's Premiership clash with Arsenal at St James' Park has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 15 with a 7.45pm kick-off. The game was due to be played on April 7.