Club manager Bobby Robson revealed that the club has booked a day with American specialist Richard Steadman, to ensure that any operation is carried out straight away.

The 24-year-old is to be sent to see the Colorado-based knee expert in a bid to solve a problem which has failed to disappear despite four months of rest.

Newcastle are currently trying to contact Cort's doctor, Professor David Dandy, to see if an operation is required.

"We are endeavouring to fix up this second opinion, and to do that, we have to first of all inform the first surgeon of our thoughts," said Robson.

"We're trying to do it right. We don't want to go on a second opinion without informing the first surgeon that that's what the board would like.

"We want to do the best for the boy. He's a valuable commodity. He's a financial investment to us and we have to protect that investment, and we want to be right for the boy.

"We have a date pencilled in for an operation anyway. We don't want to miss out on that date, we don't want that one to be delayed."

Cort has endured nothing short of a nightmare since his �7m move from Wimbledon in the summer of 2000.

He has made just 15 appearances for the north east club and his much anticipated partnership with Alan Shearer has not materialised.