Bobby Robson has revealed that Newcastle were prepared to pay £12m for Robbie Keane before the Inter Milan striker joined Leeds on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

Keane will be out to show the Geordies what they missed today in front of a sell-out 52,000 crowd at St James' Park.

And if the Irishman scores on his away debut Robson will wince and think of what might have been.

The Newcastle boss revealed: "We were in for that signing. We couldn't have paid all the cash up front and it would have been a case of agreeing with Inter Milan on how to spread the payments.

"We never got that far because the boy intimated to us that he wanted to go to Leeds and he had already turned down Chelsea. But if he'd said he preferred Newcastle we would have got him.

"I told my board 'that's the sort of player we have to be going for' because he's 20, British and a very good striker.

"But he has chosen a very good club with a fine group of players and a strong Irish contingent, which played a part in his decision.

"It's a great signing and a great move and I wish we could have done it but it wasn't to be."

Newcastle were in for Keane because of doubts over the long-term fitness of Alan Shearer.

But whatever the outcome of today's Premiership clash Robson believes Leeds are capable of challenging Manchester United and Arsenal for the title.

"David O'Leary told me last month he'd have Harry Kewell ready for this game and when you look at Kewell, Smith, Viduka, Keane and Bridges you can see exactly the attacking options he's going to have," he said.

"If Leeds pay £12m for Keane it'll mean a £30m outlay on two players and I won't get that in five years.

"If they get all their players fit they'll have a championship-winning side and they will dent the hopes of United and Arsenal."

Newcastle's Derby disaster on Saturday was heightened by his side's injury problems.

Robson will have to get his side back on track against Leeds without influential midfielder Robert Lee, who pulled his hamstring and has immediately been ruled out of the festive programme.

Goalkeeper Shay Given was substituted at half-time as a result of his accidental 13th-minute clash with Deon Burton, when the Derby striker stretched to reach a through-ball and as a result the visiting keeper suffered a badly bruised thigh.

And Christian Bassedas may also have broken his nose during the match.

So, despite the returns of Gary Speed after suspension and Nolberto Solano after a slight groin strain, Robson has a headache as he tries to inspire his side's much-needed revival.

Robson is clearly beginning to lose patience with his under-performing players and was particularly scathing of the way they conceded their goals to a Derby side who made a mockery of their lowly league position.

Robson added: ''Derby played very well in the first half and had a great appetite to win the match. But we lost the game on two set-plays which annoy me intensely.

''It gets under my skin a bit because we talk about it, and we plan it out for the players, and we practice it in training, and still we can't do it."

Robson's old sparring partner, Derby boss Jim Smith is looking forward to a particularly merry Christmas after inspiring his side to a revival which sees them sit proudly outside the Premiership relegation zone.

The Rams' 2-0 win over Newcastle continued a resurgent end to 2000 for the team who only two months ago were still scrabbling around at the bottom of the table searching for their first win.

The unlikely figure of Argentinian defender Horacio Carbonari set Derby on their way to a fourth win in six games with his shot from the edge of the six-yard box just past the half-hour.

And by the time Deon Burton converted Craig Burley's floated cross 15 minutes from time it merely set the seal on a thoroughly fluent team performance from Smith's vastly improved side.

''It's going to be a good Christmas for two days!'' Smith joked after watching his side leapfrog Manchester City in the Premiership table, ironically the side the Rams visit today.

Smith hopes to be able to name an unchanged side for the crucial trip to Maine Road, and is anxious to impress on his delighted side that their job is nowhere near completed.

''We knew this was a big period for us," he added