Nobby not for sale

Last updated : 07 June 2003 By Martyn Elliott

The arrivals of Darren Ambrose and Lee Bowyer have put pressure on Nobby’s starting spot, but the manager insists he has no intention of selling him.

"As a club we have never made any comment about Nobby's future, but I have seen certain stories which amaze me," Sir Bobby told The Journal.

"I can assure our supporters he is going nowhere. He is contracted to Newcastle until 2006 and I'm staggered there have been suggestions he is going to move simply because we have strengthened our midfield.

"Lee Bowyer can play a wide variety of positions including the right of midfield, but it's well known that he's suspended for six matches in Europe.

"With that in mind, we would be foolish to sell any of our senior midfield players.

"We have a top-class squad and I am always looking to add to that squad. What I do not intend to do is diminish the quality we already have at St James's Park."

Perhaps more important than Bowyer’s ban is that both he and Ambrose have yet to prove themselves, while Nobby has performed well in the majority of his 208 appearances for United, scoring 37 goals in the process.

Good news.