Bobby Robson has turned his back on a potential £5m double transfer sale at Newcastle after warning off clubs interested in Shay Given and Andy Griffin.

Goalkeeper Given is a target for Celtic while Young England defender Griffin is wanted by Manchester City.

But Robson has made it plain that neither player is leaving St James' Park - even though a deal could add £5m to his buying budget.

"Griffin is not for sale and we have no intention of selling Given," said a club spokesman yesterday. "Contract talks with Shay are ongoing and the manager is a big fan."

Republic of Ireland keeper Given confirmed that he is in negotiations over a new deal as his current contract runs out next summer. "I'll be staying until the manager or the board tell me otherwise," he said.

Griffin is wanted by City boss Joe Royle to link up with former teammate Steve Howey at Maine Road.

But the 21-year-old is highly rated by the Newcastle staff and is seen as a Premiership regular of the future.

Griffin has had injury problems but he's now fit and ready to step in for suspended Warren Barton at Coventry tomorrow - his first league start since scoring against Arsenal on his comeback in May.

Robert Lee, who signed a new one-year deal last weekend, is facing a tougher fight to get back into the team at Highfield Road.

The experienced midfielder is fit again but he is not guaranteed a recall because of the form of Kieron Dyer and Nolberto Solano.

A decision could hinge on how Solano feels on his return from Peru's 2-1 home defeat by Argentina.

Lee has signed a contract that will keep him at Newcastle until he's 36 but the former England midfielder said last night: "I haven't done it just to sit on the bench. The team is playing very well at the moment but I still feel that I have plenty to offer.

"I will know when to stop and hang up my boots - but that's not yet. Our target this season is to push for a place in Europe."

l Paul Gascoigne returns to Tottenham tonight with the ringing endorsement of the manager who has given him what is surely his last lease of life in the top flight.

The Everton midfielder enjoyed probably the best four years of his career at White Hart Lane before his ill-fated move to Lazio in 1992.

Now the former England star is already building a fine rapport with Everton fans and manager Walter Smith said: ''I'm sure he wants to do very well in going back to Tottenham because he had a good spell of his career there and was well liked by their supporters.

''I think at all the clubs he's been at he has been popular, and now after a dodgy spell at Middlesbrough he has got to get himself playing at his best - that's the most important thing. Gazza is getting into his game and he's starting to reach the required level of fitness and he's been playing well in the games so far.''

Smith will almost certainly start the game with Gascoigne in his starting line-up as he has a mountain of injury problems to overcome, including David Weir, injured while playing for Scotland in Latvia on Saturday