NEWCASTLE United have been told to tread carefully with Kieron Dyer despite receiving the all-clear over the England starlet's shin splint problem.

United yesterday confirmed a specialist's report had allayed fears that Dyer could face surgery and a long stretch on the sidelines.

The 22-year-old midfielder underwent a scan last week amid suggestions that he might be out for nine months, the length of time former Newcastle striker Andy Cole was unavailable because of the same condition in his early days with Manchester United.

But tests on Dyer revealed only "a small area of inflammation'' and he will now be wrapped in cotton wool by Newcastle as he bids to be fit for the clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a week tomorrow.

In a statement issued yesterday, Newcastle said: "Kieron Dyer has undergone further tests on his shin injury and all tests have shown no serious problem at the present time.

"He has a small area of inflammation on the surface of his shin bone and has made good progress. He is expected to be fit to play next week.

"However, the situation is to be monitored closely.''

It now remains to be seen whether Newcastle boss Bobby Robson urges new England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to overlook Dyer for the friendly against Spain next month, and allow him time to make what club and country hope will be a full recovery.

Meanwhile, Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi could find himself in the international reckoning - with Nigeria.

The 19-year-old spent the first five years of his life in his native country and his first-team breakthrough with the Magpies has alerted national coach Jo Bonfrere.

Academy product Ameobi has deputised for Alan Shearer while the Newcastle skipper has been out for almost a month after undergoing knee surgery.

Compared by some to Manchester City's Costa Rican frontman Paulo Wanchope, the gangling Ameobi grabbed his second goal in three games with the third in Saturday's impressive 3-1 victory at Leeds.

Bonfrere now plans to make a personal check on Ameobi. He said: "After our match with Sudan on January 27, I will go to England to watch Ameobi in action closely.

"If he is interested, I will invite him to play for us.''

Ameobi could then be in line to make his debut in a proposed friendly against Trindad and Tobago next month.

With Shearer and fellow striker Carl Cort expected to be back from injury around that time, Robson would likely be in a position to release Ameobi.

The fact that Ameobi has acted as a replacement for former England captain Shearer has intensified the interest of the Nigerian FA.

They were due to send a delegation to England to watch Ameobi in September, but aborted the trip after learning he was only appearing as a substitute.

But they have continued to keep tabs on his progress and a regular supply of videos of Ameobi in action have been arriving at the Nigerians' headquarters in Abuja.

It is also understood that Arsenal's Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu has been sounded out about Ameobi's emergence in the English game.

And Nigeria hope the lure of working alongside Kanu and Chelsea's Celestine Babayaro will prove tempting for Ameobi.

lDidier Domi, who walked out on Newcastle to cynically engineer a £3m return to Paris St. Germain, yesterday declared: "There's no place like home."

After just over two years on Tyneside, where he bizarrely claimed he was the target of abuse from fans and media criticism, devout Muslim Domi stressed: "Whatever happened, I was still a Parisian and it is a pleasure to come back. It will be easier for me to feel comfortable."

The 21-year-old left-back, who played his last game in a black and white shirt as substitute in the 5-0 drubbing at Arsenal in December, could play against Lens next week, but insists he needs to regain fitness.

"First, I must recover decent fitness," he said. "I haven't played for over a month, but I am young so it won't be a problem for me to be fit soon.''