Kieron Dyer lifts lid on brilliant Bobby Robson put-down which kept Craig Bellamy in his place at Newcastle

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Former Newcastle United star Kieron Dyer has recalled a brilliant story involving legendary Magpies boss Sir Bobby Robson and Craig Bellamy.

Dyer enjoyed the best spell of an injury-ravaged career while at Newcastle, playing 190 games and scoring 23 goals in eight years.

The former England midfielder was forced to retire in 2013 and has now released a book about his career titled Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late, which has been adapted for The Daily Mail.

Having played for the national team, Ipswich Town, Newcastle, West Ham, QPR and Middlesbrough Dyer has some tales to tell from his playing days.

But none can top the time legendary Magpies boss Sir Bobby Robson brilliantly put stroppy striker Craig Bellamy in his place after a comfortable Newcastle win.

Bellamy was withdrawn early with the Magpies cruising to victory as Robson elected to save the striker’s legs for another day.

That did not go down too well with the firebrand Welshman, though, who was cursing in the changing rooms after the game at being taken off.

“Craig kept jabbering away about the injustice and finally Sir Bobby snapped. ‘I’ll squash you, son, like an ant.’,” Dyer revealed in his new book.

“Craig looked a bit taken aback but after a brief pause, started complaining again.

“‘Who are you?’ Sir Bobby said. ‘Ronaldo, Romario, Stoichkov, Hagi, Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Gascoigne: these are the people I deal with. And who are you?’

“The changing room went quiet. Even Craig went quiet. And then Craig looked over at me and said: ‘He’s got a point, hasn’t he?'”

Just when you thought Sir Bobby could not be loved any more than he already is…

Dyer hailed the former England boss as the best man-manager he ever worked under and it is easy to see why from what is surely one of the best football put-downs of all time.