BOBBY ROBSON last night admitted he will have to play nursemaid to his Newcastle United squad if they are to embark on another FA Cup run.

The Magpies' manager, who led Ipswich to glory in the competition in 1978, labelled last year's Wembley semi-final defeat by Chelsea "one of the big disappointments of my managerial career''.

And, as he prepared his side for tomorrow's third-round visit of Premiership rivals Aston Villa, Robson left no doubt about how hard it will be to go all the way this time.

The loss of Alan Shearer until March while he recovers from surgery to cure a knee problem has been the biggest blow to Robson in a season which has seen his squad ravaged by injuries.

Hopes of bringing in cover for Shearer in the shape of Wimbledon front-runner Marcus Gayle were still hanging in the balance yesterday.

United chairman Freddy Shepherd is loath to spend big money until the future of the transfer system is clarified, and the £1.5m offer for 30-year-old Gayle falls short of the Dons' £3.5m valuation.

With Gayle set to become cup-tied when he lines up today against Notts County, and Carl Cort nearing fitness after a long-term hamstring problem, Robson yesterday appeared to be talking himself out of any deal.

"We're going to have to nurse the squad along,'' said Robson, whose frontline crisis was eased by the emergence of 19-year-old Nigeria-born striker Shola Ameobi.

"We're still working behind the scenes every day, but we were pleased with the way young Shola came in.

"He's one of our boys and, as a manager, you want to give the youth academy some back-up because it's there to produce players for the first team.

"But had he not done so well, by this time we would have been forced to do something.

"We're told we could hear on January 12 what is going to be done about the transfer system and we might do something then.

"We would have been prepared to do something had Shola not given us a bit of hope.

"Had we brought another guy in, it would have knocked back Shola, Daniel Cordone and Lomana Lualua.

"Now, with Carl Cort probably only two weeks away from playing again, things are improving.''

Cort, signed from Wimbledon last summer for £7m, has been out for over three months and is still recovering from an infection which set in after surgery.

"He's kept his head up and proved a very good character,'' said Robson. "He's training three times a week, but his wound has not quite healed yet - the infection is what has put him back.

"The wound is still open and it's been awful. It's been frustrating for the lad and for us because we could do with him.''

Robson's attacking options could also soon be boosted by the return of hamstring victim Kevin Gallacher, who hasn't started a game since the end of September.

"He's back in training,'' said Robson. "He just needs to get his touch and tempo right and he'll soon be available.''

Robson has been equally encouraged by Shearer's return to light training only a week after his operation for tendinitis.

The skipper is walking on a treadmill each day and Robson said: "He's doing very well - he's doing the Lands End to John O'Groats walk!''

Stand-in striker Kieron Dyer has been helping to shoulder the burden of United's attacking ambitions.

The £6m signing from Ipswich has answered the call by scoring four times in nine games, including two stunning goals against Liverpool and Bradford.

But Dyer was on the carpet yesterday as Robson read him the riot act following his sending-off for foul and abusive language in Tuesday's tempestuous 4-2 defeat at Tottenham.

"We'll deal with Kieron,'' said Robson, who will fine the 22-year-old England starlet under the club's disciplinary code.

"He got a rough decision and reacted badly. We don't condone what he did and I'll be speaking to him personally.

"I haven't seen him since the Tottenham game because his uncle died and he had to go to Ipswich for the funeral.

"But he's back now and he'll learn from what happened at Tottenham. He apologised straight away after the game and said to the players: 'I'm sorry, I've let you all down.'

"We know we've got an outstanding young talent and we've got to cherish and nurture him.

"He scored a goal the other week that only someone like Thierry Henry, Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen or Robbie Fowler would score.''

Dyer's off-field behaviour since his move to Tyneside 18 months ago has also attracted the wrong sort of headlines.

"You can't sneeze or cough now - he just has to learn,'' said Robson. "It's a global game and the media attention is on you all the time.

"He's come from Ipswich, a quiet part of the world, and he's more in the spotlight here.

"But he's a player with great potential. He's a little gem to us.

"He's been playing up front against big guys who are going to topple him, but he's scoring sensational goals.''

Robson knows John Gregory's Villa will be a tough nut to crack. "They are difficult to beat,'' he said.

"They're strong in defence, competitive in midfield and they have very good attacking players in Dion Dublin, Paul Merson and David Ginola.

"Merson is a talented player and they bought Ginola from Spurs to give them more firepower.

"I brought John Gregory into the England team when I was manager. I've been a manager for over 30 years and John has been a Premiership manager for two years. He's just learning.''

Newcastle, meanwhile, are again being linked with Sheffield United left wing-back Wayne Quinn.