By Matthew Jones
December 21 2004

French winger Laurent Robert feels hurt by the way manager Graeme Souness has been treating him, and has admitted that his relationship with the Magpies' boss has finially reached breaking point... Robert feels betrayed by Souness, who has made his criticism for the player public - speaking about matches, and training.

The French man feels that he can no longer work in these conditions, and is ready to end his time at St James Park.

Robert said: "The manager has no confidence in me.

"He doesn't talk to me. There's nothing. He just doesn't like me.

"He says I am lazy in training and tells people I am no good. All the time I am just supposed to sit on the bench.

"It looks like I am not going to play for Newcastle any more. I feel I have proved myself during three years in the Premiership but the manager keeps putting me on the bench.

"I want to stay with United, I really do. But if I am not going to play then I will move."

What now for Robert? His agent has held crisis with Freddie Shepherd - but is unlikely to get involved in squad matters - that will be left to Graeme Souness. It looks like Robert will have to be sold in January.

On Newcaslte's season so far, Robert added: "Normally Newcastle are challenging for a top-three place but now the club is nowhere near that level.

"That hurts me and it's very hard for everybody. Every fixture we face these days there is a question mark hanging over us. I don't know why this is happening, but I find it very frustrating. In my four years at the club we have never gone so long without a win."

Robert had hoped that he would be able to start against Liverpool, and show the fans and Souness just what he can do, but James Milner was picked ahead of him - and Robert started on the bench.

"Liverpool was a game I wanted to play and when Olivier [Bernard] was told he would start at left back I thought I had a chance," added Robert. "But I didn't play from the start and I don't know why.

"Even when I do come on I don't know where I am supposed to play or what I am supposed to do.

"It is difficult for me, but even more difficult for the fans. You can't look at what went wrong against Liverpool - Newcastle have been in this position for a long time now."

Some good news for Robert... he was being watched on Sunday by Atletico Madrid sports director, Toni Munoz.

Atletico scout Manuel Garcia Quilon was also at the game, to watch Magpies' Craig Bellamy and Liverpool's Harry Kewell - although Craig Bellamy was forced out of the game after picking up a back injury in the pre-match warm-up.