NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson is looking to Alain Goma to muzzle the menace of Liverpool's Michael Owen at St James' Park tomorrow afternoon.

England striker Owen has repeatedly put the bite on United in recent seasons, scoring an astonishing nine goals in his last five appearances against them in League and Cup.

Owen has grabbed five alone from his last two visits to Tyneside and Robson, whose defence has been ravaged by injuries, is hoping cornerstone Goma is given the all-clear after missing last week's disastrous 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland with a calf problem.

Robson, however, now has new worries over midfield duo Gary Speed and Christian Bassedas.

Speed, scorer of the opener in the Sunderland setback, has had a neckbrace fitted after suffering a freak weight-room injury.

And Argentinian Bassedas, who made his first home start in the Tyne-Wear derby, has "tweaked'' a groin which forced him to limp out of training.

Robson, who already had 12 players on the injured list, yesterday gave his players the day off and confessed: "I'm terrified to send the players out training in case we pick up any more injuries.''

After being forced to play midfielder Robert Lee as a sweeper and throw youngster Steve Caldwell in at the deep end, Robson would be delighted to welcome Frenchman Goma back into the fold.

He said: "Goma is looking better. He's done some training and says he feels all right. We're trying to get some power back into his muscles.

"But, like Gary Speed, he has an extra day and we are hoping this will work in our favour.''

Speed yesterday admitted: "If the game had been 24 hours earlier, I could not have played.

"It was all rather unfortunate. I was lifting weights in the gym when my neck suddenly seized up and the physios soon whipped me into the neck collar, which I hope will do the trick.

"With an extra day to recover, I'm hoping to be OK.''

Keeper Shay Given and striker Alan Shearer have also been forced to sit it out in recent days with knocks.

Skipper Shearer, whose penalty failure cost United a point against Sunderland, is bidding to return to the goal standard with a vengeance.

He said: "It's been a tough week for me, but life goes on. All I want to do now is score some goals.''

Battle-weary Liverpool are desperate to put a disappointing seven days behind them after surrendering leads at Tottenham last weekend and in Athens against Olympiakos in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.

It took goals from Shearer and Duncan Ferguson to match Owen's double in the corresponding fixture last December.

And the Magpies left Anfield empty handed after all but securing a creditable draw in March, when Owen was rested and Jamie Redknapp emerged as Liverpool's hero with a late winner.

l Liverpool plan to sell one international full-back this weekend, but they did not expect to rediscover a golden oldie, writes PAUL WALKER.

With Rigobert Song set to sign for West Ham in a £3m move, 31-year-old Irish left-back Steve Staunton is back in the limelight.

Staunton was so far out of the frame he reckoned Liverpool had even forgotten that his month's loan to Crystal Palace was up.

Now he could make his first Premiership start since last December against Newcastle.

Staunton received a call-up for the Olympiakos game with Christian Ziege out with Achilles problems, and came on because Djimi Traore was having a bad game even before he picked up a hamstring injury that will keep him out for three weeks.

''I have 18 months of my contract left and who knows what will happen,'' said Staunton. ''I'd be a idiot if I said I didn't want to stay at Liverpool.

"I came back to the club to win trophies and I think they are well on the way to getting back into that situation.