Spine injury rules out Robert for six weeks

Laurent Robert, the Newcastle United, winger could be out for at least six weeks after it was revealed he has a stress fracture in his spine.

Tests carried out after the 27-year-old French international complained of back pain during the club's pre-season tour of the Netherlands have revealed that he has damaged one of his vertebrae. He will spend six weeks in treatment for the condition and then enter rehabilitation before he will be available.

A club spokesman said: "Following extensive tests last week, results on Saturday showed that the player has a small stress fracture in a part of one of his vertebrae."

The news will come as a blow to the club's manager Sir Bobby Robson and his team, who could be eight days away from the first leg of their Champions' League qualifier. If the Norwegians Lillestrom overturn a 1-0 deficit against Zeljeznicar in Sarajevo tomorrow, Newcastle will head for Scandinavia next Tuesday; if the Bosnians win they will play in Sarajevo a day later.

Robert, a £10m signing from Paris St-Germain last summer, enjoyed a mixed first season, combining moments of brilliance with periods of apparent lethargy. However, his pace, crossing ability and dead-ball expertise will be badly missed.

The Dundee manager, Jim Duffy, will find out today whether his move for Paul Gascoigne will get off the ground. The 35-year-old Gascoigne, who has already rejected an approach from Darlington, is considering his options after a move to the US side Washington DC United fell through.

But Duffy said: "No money has been talked about because there would be no point if he turns round and said he does not want to come. But at least we've registered an interest and it could happen."

Gascoigne's agent, Ian Elliott, believes a return to Scotland could appeal to his client. He said: "Without knowing the ins and outs of what Dundee are willing to offer, I know it is something that could appeal to Paul. He loves Scotland and nearly everyone in Scotland loves him."

The Scottish Premier League newcomers Partick Thistle have also joined the chase for Gascoigne's signature, but are not optimistic. "We have considered making a move for Paul, but I cannot see it happening because of finance," their manager, John Lambie, said.

Leeds United's contract rebel Lee Bowyer is ready to start the new season in the club's colours, but his representative David Giess yesterday refused to give any further clues to the midfielder's long-term future. Leeds' new manager, Terry Venables, believes he may yet be able to persuade Bowyer to sign a new five-year contract after a move to Liverpool fell through.

Bowyer's current contract runs out next summer, and Venables said: "At some stage I expect I will talk to him again – but I am not looking too soon for that. He knows how I feel about it, so there is no point driving him mad...The ball is in Lee's court. I am delighted to have him in the squad, and possession is nine-tenths of the law."

The former Fifa general secretary, Michel Zen-Ruffinen, has promised to break his self-imposed silence next month. The Swiss lawyer, a prime mover in the anti-Sepp Blatter faction in the game, left the world governing body following the re-election of Blatter as its president. Zen-Ruffinen presented a report to the Fifa executive committee in which he claimed to have discovered evidence of financial corruption within the organisation. "Contrary to reports, I have not signed a confidentiality agreement," he said.