Speaking to The Journal, Souness said:
“In terms of his abilities at dead-ball situations, Laurent is up there with all the top players around today,"
"He is up there with anyone you would care to name. That is four goals he has got from set-pieces now and I don't think even David Beckham scores many more than that in a season. Off the top of my head, I don't think Zidane does either."
It may have taken six months to do so, but Graeme Souness finally looks to have found a man-management technique that gets the best out of the enigmatic winger. Having earlier spoke of their 'love/hate' realtionship, Souness seems very much in love with the dead-ball expert given his world class appraisal.
And, if Souness is to continue his realigning of Robert’s work ethics then it may soon become the case that Robert is no longer referred to as a ‘winger’. Robert may indeed become the ‘modern wide midfielder’ that Souness has waxed much lyrical about.
Let us not get carried away. Robert still has a lot of work to do before Robert Pires has to worry about his French shirt.
But, it is his performances in black ‘n’ white rather than les bleus that is our prime concern.
And, under the guidance of his new mentor, the Reunion Islander is experiencing a resurgence in form not seen since his spectacular double against Spurs in December of 2003.
With Spurs awaiting The Magpies in the FA Cup quarter-final, what price another solo show from Robert against another of his ‘lucky’ clubs?