Allardyce opens door for Dyer departure

After more than a week of speculation over the 28-year-old England midfielder's future, Allardyce confirmed today that "family problems" mean he could end his eight-year stay on Tyneside.

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Dyer missed much of last season through injury

West Ham, Tottenham and Manchester City have all been linked with moves for the player, who joined the Magpies in a £6million switch from home-town club Ipswich during the summer of 1999.

Allardyce does not particularly want to sell Dyer and will attempt to help resolve his problems during ongoing discussions.

However, while he admits the midfielder could be sold, he insists that will only happen if it is in the best interests of Newcastle.

He said: "If it's not right for Newcastle United, Kieron Dyer will not be leaving. If it's right for us and right for him - it can't just be right for him and not for us.

"Those discussions will continue over the period of time it takes to come to the decision one way or the other.

"If everything falls into place for both, for us and for him, then that's fine; if it doesn't, then from my point of view, I have to protect the interests of Newcastle United.

"Kieron Dyer is a top player. I would like to resolve his problems - that's what every manager has to do.

"If it's not possible to do that while he is here at Newcastle because of the family problems he has got, it might have to be somewhere else.

"We will have to wait and see."

Allardyce could well have done without the Dyer situation as his efforts to strengthen his squad continue amid growing frustration.

His midfield resources looked strong at one point, but new signing Joey Barton's fractured metatarsal has ruled him out for six weeks, while Turkey international Emre is currently in Germany undergoing an assessment of his recovery from the ankle problem which ended his season prematurely.

At his best, Dyer is a hugely destructive player, although his time at St James' has been punctuated by problems on and off the field.

Allardyce would need to replace him with a high-profile signing, and with his focus currently on his threadbare defence, the search for an experienced and talented midfielder would put further pressure on his time and the club's transfer budget.

He has at least been boosted by the early return of striker Mark Viduka from Asian Cup duty with Australia following their quarter-final exit.

The 31-year-old was at the club's Darsley Park training headquarters today, although like Michael Owen, Shay Given and Shola Ameobi, who have minor injuries, he will play no part in tomorrow night's friendly clash with Celtic.

However, Allardyce is confident Viduka's exertions in the Far East will serve as his pre-season preparation, and fired an early warning shot across the Socceroos' bows.

He said: "He doesn't need any pre-season any more. He's had a full pre-season playing in the Asian Cup, so there is certainly no lack of games.

"I think he has played five in extreme heat. A little bit of rest first and there's no reason why on August 11, he shouldn't be firing on all cylinders for us.

"If there is a rest needed then, it can come later on in international breaks rather than him tripping all the way over to Australia for meaningless friendlies.

"He needs to seriously consider that now. We have put that to him and from our point of view and his point of view, that would be very sensible, certainly in the early international breaks when friendlies are normally being played.

"He could only be playing for Australia purely as a fundraising venture, and Mark Viduka really has no need to go and get involved in that when he is contracted to Newcastle and is a major signing and hopefully one of our leading goalscorers next season."