ROBERT LEE last night thanked Bobby Robson for rescuing a Newcastle career that was almost "wrecked'' by Ruud Gullit.

Long-serving Lee, who recently signed a contract extension which guarantees him a lucrative testimonial in two years' time, suffered more than most at the hands of the eccentric Gullit.

The Dutchman stripped Lee of the captaincy, banished the midfielder from the first team and even denied him a squad number.

But as Robson marked the week of the first anniversary of his arrival at St James' Park by collecting the Carling Manager of the Month award for leading United to the top of the Premiership, Lee declared: "Everything has changed under Bobby.

"He's made a major difference, not only for me but for Alan Shearer and everybody.

"He hasn't brought too many people in and he's got the best out of all the players. There's a great team spirit.

"He saved my Newcastle career. If Ruud Gullit had been here another month or so, he would have wrecked another few Newcastle careers, not just mine.

"I've said before that if I'd gone, Alan wouldn't have been too far behind me. There would have been a few others as well.

"I reached the stage where it had all become too much for me. It was the most awful time of my life. I've never been treated like that by anybody and I didn't deserve it. Now everything has changed.''

Under the shrewd tutelage of wise old sage Robson, the Magpies' fortunes have been transformed.

They hit the top of the table in midweek with a 2-0 win at Coventry and 67-year-old Robson admitted: "We've made great strides in a year.

"We've gone from bottom to top. It's been meteoric, but it's only September and we'll keep our feet on the ground. The progress we've made is down to the response we've had from the players. A great amount of praise has to go to them.

"The manager of the month award means I've got to thank a lot of people. It's a reflection on everybody at the club, not just me. I've got great technical staff and the players have been magnificent.''

United's head for heights is put to the test today when title aspirants Chelsea visit Tyneside.

Gianluca Vialli's side were the hosts when Newcastle lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, two days short of a year ago in Robson's first game in charge.

Chelsea have been Robson's bogey team, winning all three encounters last season by a one-goal margin.

"It's ironic that I started with Chelsea and now we've got them around my first anniversary here,'' said Robson, whose side lost to the Londoners at Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

"They bugged us last season - they beat us three times - and I can't remember losing to a team three times in a season.

"I wouldn't say we've got a score to settle, but this is an important game for both sides.

"They seem to be under pressure, but I don't know why. Vialli is a very good manager and he's got a squad of real quality. I think the pressure on him to win something is too intense.

"We're top after four games but that doesn't mean much to me. We're not going to start talking about winning titles. I don't think you can go from 11th one year to champions the next - I think that's too big a jump.

"We're not afraid of anyone and I'm not writing us off, but my view is that we'll be in a group chasing the dreaded four - Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

"You could say it's the dreaded five with Leeds, but Harry Kewell is out injured and they'll miss him, and the real difference is that the other four have been at the helm of British football year after year.

"I don't think Man. United will run away with the title like last year because I think the other teams are stronger.

"Chelsea have bought well with people like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mario Stanic and they've now got Winston Bogarde from Barcelona.

"We were in for Bogarde and I thought at one stage that we were closer to getting him than Chelsea. I think he fancied the Kings Road rather than the Quayside!

"They've also got Gustavo Poyet, who scored three goals against us last season. He's like Bryan Robson was, arriving late in the box. Gary Speed does that for us and he got 13 goals last season by arriving at crucial moments.''

Robson has called 18-year-old Nigerian striker Shola Ameobi into the squad. "He's tall and gangly and he's a bit like Paulo Wanchope,'' said Robson. "We think we'll make a player of him.''

With left-sided duo Didier Domi and Stephen Glass picking up injuries at Coventry, United now have eight names on the crocks' list.

Striker Carl Cort, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem, is expected to be back for the game at Southampton a week today.

But centre-back Nikos Dabizas, like Cort injured in the home game against Derby, faces a longer stretch on the sidelines than anticipated with knee ligament damage.

Robson said: "We thought he'd be out for two months, but it could now be several.''

l Goalkeeper Shay Given was yesterday poised to sign a new four-year contract with Newcastle.

The Republic of Ireland international was a target for Celtic, but Robson said: "I'm delighted he's staying.

"In Shay and Steve Harper I think we have as good a pair of keepers as there is in the Premiership. Shay is one of the top five keepers in the Premiership.

"I never wanted him to move and there's no need for him to go anywhere else.'