BRYAN ROBSON'S belief that the vast majority of Middlesbrough fans are firmly behind him will be put to the test when Arsenal visit the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro's Worthington Cup third-round exit at the hands of First Division Wimbledon piled on the agony for under-pressure Robson as his side slumped to their fourth successive defeat.

With a trip to Premiership champions Manchester United following the Arsenal game, Robson is facing the two most critical encounters of his six-year reign.

Chairman Steve Gibson is sticking by the man he brought into football management, but Robson knows the tide must turn soon to appease a section of disgruntled fans who believe the former England captain's time is up.

Robson, whose resolve was strengthened this week by "hundreds'' of letters of support from fans, is banking on the return of key players from injury and suspension to spark a desperately-needed revival.

Striker Alen Boksic, skipper Paul Ince and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer were among nine absentees on Tuesday at Selhurst Park.

Leading five-goal scorer Boksic has missed the last three games with a knee ligament problem, while Ince, sidelined after surgery for a knee infection, serves a one-match ban this weekend but should be back for the Old Trafford clash along with Schwarzer, who has been out for almost seven weeks because of a broken thumb.

Record £8m signing Ugo Ehiogu, whose debut at Charlton eleven days ago lasted only four minutes when he suffered a calf injury, was also missing against Wimbledon along with Brian Deane, Keith O'Neill, Phil Stamp, Robbie Mustoe and Paul Okon.

But heavy defeats by the Premiership pacesetters could make Robson's position untenable in the eyes of many fans.

Arsenal have been something of a Nemesis for Boro, having won 6-1 on Teesside two seasons ago and 5-1 at Highbury last term, and the last thing Robson needs is a repeat performance from the Gunners' firing squad.

Despite spending nearly £18m strengthening his squad since the end of last season - taking his total nett outlay with Boro to around £37m - Robson admitted after the Wimbledon setback that there was still insufficient quality to cope with a crippling injury list.

He said: "I fielded the strongest side I had available but I would say, on that performance, we are not good enough when we have so many players out.

"What I have to do is knuckle down over the next two weeks and organise the lads as much as I can for the next two games.

"I need to help them as much as I can and hopefully, by the time we are through the next two games, we will have most of our injured players back. We are certainly missing them - I can assure the fans of that.

"Over the next few days I will have a good chat with everyone at the club, asking why they think things are the way they are.''

Full-back Curtis Fleming, whose handball gave away the penalty which John Hartson converted to consign Boro to defeat against Wimbledon, has called on the fans to rally round Robson.

Republic of Ireland international Fleming, Boro's second longest-serving player after nine years with the club, said: "Morale is a bit low at the moment, but we're still looking forward to the Arsenal game. Hopefully we can get a win.

"It's a huge game but the lads aren't afraid of Arsenal. We're not quaking in our boots. We've just got to get together and work hard.

"I would hope the fans would get behind the manager - there's nothing he can do about injuries.

"He's put together a squad that he hoped would get us into Europe and it's been decimated by injuries.

"I think this is the best squad we've had and it's probably the best dressing room in terms of spirit. We're not just here for the ride - we all want to win something.

"The club has come on leaps and bounds in the manager's time here and everyone should give him all their support.

"The players have and the chairman has and 30-odd thousand can help on Saturday. Sometimes I don't think they realise how much they can help.

"All the lads feel they owe the manager one. Nobody feels it as much as the players do.

"We bring it home with us. I gave away the penalty at Wimbledon and I was sick to my stomach.

"It was a classic case of ball to hand, not hand to ball.

What could I do when the guy powered a header at me from three yards?''

l Norwegian prospect Morten Gamst Pedersen has pulled out of a trial with Boro and is poised for a spell at Nantes.

Tromso midfielder Pedersen, hailed as Norway's answer to David Beckham, was due to arrive on Teesside this week.

Under-18 international Pedersen had an unhappy stint with Wimbledon last season and a Tromso source told Northern Echo Sport: "He wants to go to France instead of England because our people have had good reports about Nantes.

"He has already been to England and wants to see what it's like in France.'