Robert hopeful of starting season

Newcastle winger Laurent Robert has quelled fears over his back injury and insists he should be fit for the opening Premiership match of the season.

The Frenchman was expected to be out for six weeks with a stress fracture, thought to have been brought on by hip trouble he suffered last season.

The Magpies kick off their campaign against West Ham on August 19 and Robert reckons he should be involved.

The 27-year-old said: "This type of injury is quite common among high calibre athletes, but it is not as bad as what might have been said.

"There is no inflammation. It is just a pain I feel in my back and with that sort of injury it is pointless for me to stop training.

"I have to treat my injury and keep having lighter training sessions.

"And if everything goes well I will be present for the English league's first game," he told his personal website, www.laurent-robert.com.

Robert, who cost £10million from Paris St Germain last summer, scored eight goals in 36 league games and was key to Sir Bobby Robson's team finishing fourth and therefore qualifying for the Champions League.