ROBBIE Elliott was keeping his fingers crossed as he waited for Bobby Robson to announce his team for tomorrow's Premiership clash at the Reebok.

The ex-Wanderer is hoping to make an emotional return to the club he left in the summer but, after being left out of the Worthington Cup tie at Barnsley on Tuesday, is taking nothing for granted.

Elliott explained: "In the manager's words, I was rested, but the team won and played well.

"I can't say what will happen but, hopefully, I'll be back in. I've played in all the other games so far."

Robson acknowledged: "I know how much it means for Robbie to play in this one." But French full-back Olivier Bernard impressed on his debut in the win at Barnsley and has put his name in the Premiership frame.

"Sentiment is no reason to pick a player," Elliott said. "I'd like to be picked for the right reasons.

"The manager pulled me to one side before the Barnsley game and said he thought the young lad deserved a go."

Newcastle (probable line-up): Given, Barton or Griffin, Dabizas, O'Brien, Elliott or Bernard, Solano, Lee, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy.

Read Gordon Sharrock's exclusive interview with Robbie Elliott on this site on later