Robert In No-Man's-Land

Robert, on a season-long loan with Portsmouth, returned to the north east at the weekend for Saturday's clash against relegation rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The 30-year-old was fined two weeks' wages, understood to be around £50,000, and forced to issue a grovelling apology to Perrin, chairman Milan Mandaric and the fans.

It has been suggested Portsmouth would like Robert to return to St James' Park but that avenue has been conclusively blocked by chairman Freddy Shepherd.

Robert burned his bridges with United last season, and in particular manager Graeme Souness, due to his outspoken views, notably on the eve of the club's UEFA Cup quarter-final clash with Sporting Lisbon when he criticised the team and the Scot.

But Shepherd, speaking in the Newcastle Chronicle, said: "When Portsmouth signed Robert from us it was on a permanent loan deal until the end of the current season, and a deal which will see him stay there after that is all done and dusted as far as we are concerned.

"I don't know what arrangement Robert has with Portsmouth, but it has nothing to do with us and all I can categorically say is that he will not be returning to Newcastle United."