Laurent Robert hit by eye illness

The Frenchman missed training today with the official website reporting that the player has picked up the eye infection sweeping through the team. Robert was missing as the rest of the players were put through their paces by the Newcastle coaching staff. He joins Given, Caig, Bowyer and O'Brien on the sidelines and would have to be a doubt for the Boro game at the weekend judging by the amount of time the rest of the quintet have spent attempting to regain their fitness.

In other news Robert did receive a boost today when he was included in the initial France squad for the game against Bosnia-Herzogovina. Teammate Olivier Bernard also received a call up.