Robson is up for it despite long sick list

"Shola didn't play on Sunday, neither did Bramble, so we have doubts about all of those players.

"Bowyer finished the game, but hasn't been able to train as I would have liked so far this week.

"So, I really can't give any idea as to the exact team that I will put out."

Dyer, who was used as an emergency full-back at Villa after Andy O'Brien was sent off early on, wants to play through the pain barrier to aid his side's cause.

But Robson insists none of the walkingwounded will be risked if they are not fully fit.

The manager said: "After tonight, we have seven games in about 24 days and every one is important. Sunday against Chelsea is crucial and I will not play players who are not fit because if I do that and they break down, they will come off the pitch worse than they went on.''

That said, Robson and skipper Alan Shearer are refusing to feel sorry for themselves.

"We're looking forward to it," said Robson. "It's a tough task. We've just had a bit of bad luck at the wrong time in terms of one or two injuries, but whatever team I put out, it will be as strong as I can and it will compete. It will do our fans justice."

Shearer, who is bidding to become the first Newcastle captain to lift a trophy since Bobby Moncur was handed the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969, admits the injuries have come as a blow, but is relishing the challenge.

The 33-year-old was not even born when Moncur's men defeated Ujpest Dozsa 6-2 on aggregate.

"Bobby Moncur, in a nice way, keeps reminding me he was the last skipper to lift some silverware, and I hope I can change that - we all do," he said.

"Once we were knocked out of the qualifiers in the Champions League, we all sat down and said to ourselves it was a huge disappointment and the only way to get over that was to win the UEFA Cup, and at this stage of the competition, that hasn't changed.

"It's a massive game for the players, for the fans, for the whole club. It's a great opportunity for us to get ourselves in the history books."