NEWCASTLE transfer target Dirk Kuyt has pledged to put all discussion over his future on hold until the end of this summer's World Cup finals.

But the Magpies are still expected to send a scouting delegation to Rotterdam's De Kuip Stadium this evening to watch the striker play for Holland in a friendly against Cameroon.

Kuyt's name is understood to be on a shortlist of transfer targets drawn up by Glenn Roeder as he attempts to recruit a successor to Alan Shearer.

The Feyenoord striker has previously spoken of his desire to move to the Premiership this summer, with Tottenham and Liverpool expected to compete with Newcastle for his services.

But with Holland's opening World Cup game against Serbia & Montenegro now just 15 days away, he has sought to draw a line under the persistent speculation that has dogged his build-up to the finals.

"I thought about it for some time and I made up my mind," said the 25-year-old. "My future prospects are sidelined for now.

"I have also told my management that I do not want to hear anything during the World Cup about interested clubs - only Oranje counts."

The news will come as a disappointment to Roeder as, after meeting chairman Freddy Shepherd this week, the former West Ham boss had been hoping to make progress on the transfer front before the start of this summer's finals.

That now looks unlikely, although he can at least console himself with the success of Michael Owen's latest step on the road to recovery.

The Newcastle striker, who has not made a single Premiership start in 2006, played for the opening 61 minutes of Thursday night's England B defeat to Belarus.

He looked understandably short of match practice alongside Peter Crouch, but proved his attacking instincts were as sharp as ever with the a first-half header against the crossbar that led to Jermaine Jenas' close-range opener.

"I am very pleased for Michael," said Roeder. "It is just a shame we didn't have him for a month or so at the end of the season.

"Unfortunately, as we found out, he had to have a second screw placed into his foot which held him up after his metatarsal injury against Tottenham last year. But it was great to see him back and looking sharp again.

"It was great that he was involved in the goal.

"It was a shame it did not go under the bar really.

"But it just shows you what Michael can do.

"It is actually amazing how many headers he wins for his size.

"That's why he is going to be valuable to Newcastle in the future.

"Now that Alan Shearer has retired he will be able to do that for us."

Jonathan Woodgate has insisted he wants to remain at Real Madrid despite a nightmare first season at the Bernabeu.

The injury-plagued centre-half has been linked with both Newcastle and Middlesbrough in recent days, but claims he feels indebted to his current employers.

"I owe Real a lot for standing by me and, in return, I want to come back as a first-team player next year," said Woodgate.

"I still want to succeed at Real and am going to work hard to make that happen.

I am expecting a tough summer, but it will all be worth it in the end."