VETERAN boss Bobby Robson reckons a younger man would have buckled under the "nightmare'' strain of managing Newcastle United.

Robson, 68 next month, has spent almost half his life as a manager.

And since he took charge at St. James' Park 16 months ago, the former England boss has been confronted with one crisis after another.

This week was no different.

First came a shock transfer request from Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, which will be rejected by the Newcastle board.

Then winger Nolberto Solano, United's player of the season so far, revealed he is ready to end his international exile with Peru and resume his trans-Atlantic travels.

And yesterday Robson was rocked by a fresh injury setback to Carl Cort just as he was planning to recall the £7m striker for Wednesday's FA Cup third-round replay at Aston Villa.

Cort, who last played four months ago, broke down in training on Thursday and his comeback from hamstring trouble has been postponed for at least a further two weeks.

Robson has lost the equivalent of an entire team this season through injury.

He is also coping without French defender Didier Domi, who has gone AWOL, and been forced to battle on while the transfer kitty is kept under lock and key by cautious chairman Freddy Shepherd.

Robson said yesterday: "This job is a nightmare. I seem to have been faced with problems to solve every day since I came here, when all I really want to do is coach players on the training ground.

"It's quite some time since I've had to use my wits to keep a club from floundering. It's topsy-turvy all the time.

"I think a younger coach would have cleared off and found a golf course by now.

"But if I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't be here. I have to keep the club going and I have a great staff to help me.

"I've been in the game a long time. Eventually we'll get it right, but it won't happen overnight. We are still stuck at stage one when I wanted to be moving on to stage two.

"However, we have succeeded in sailing the ship through stormy waters and we are still eighth in the Premiership.

"And if we can beat Villa in the cup replay, that keeps our season going as well."

Given will stay on the bench for the home game against Coventry City today, after losing his place to Steve Harper and asking for a move.

Robson said: "I recommended to the board that we give him a four-year contract earlier in the season, and now he has asked for a transfer.

"I don't feel let down, but I do feel very disappointed. I don't agree with his decision. He said through his agent that he had no option.

"But he does have an option - to honour his contract and fight for a place.

"I have said all along that I think I have the best pair of goalkeepers in the Premiership. Harper has come in and done well and now it's Shay's turn to compete.

"I had to stay loyal to the players who did so well against Leeds and Manchester United when we had our backs to the wall.

"We came out of those games with four points and I believed they deserved my loyalty.

"Harper is a very capable keeper and while I'm not putting him up for England selection, I believe Sven-Goran Eriksson will have to look at every keeper in the Premiership who is English."

Robson has almost certainly now ruled out a move for Wimbledon front-runner Marcus Gayle, even though Cort is back on the treatment table.

A specialist yesterday allayed fears that Cort could be out for the rest of the season.

But the former Wimbledon man has suffered a slight hamstring strain not related to his operation and United will be reluctant to rush him back.

Kevin Gallacher, however, could be available for Wednesday's clash at Villa Park and Alan Shearer is believed to be no more than six weeks away from a comeback following knee surgery.

Robson, meanwhile, is expecting something special today from Solano and Kieron Dyer before they drop out through suspension.

Key midfielder Gary Speed is fit to return after the Welsh international was forced to come off against Villa because of exhaustion.

On-loan full-back Wayne Quinn makes his debut and Robson said: "We are very pleased with him.

"He has a sweet left foot and I'm happy to throw him in the deep end."

The Sheffield United player hopes to clinch a £1.5m move