John Carver: Sir Bobby Robson 'will be looking down' on Newcastle

John Carver was assistant manager to Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle from 1999 to 2004

Newcastle caretaker manager John Carver says he believes Sir Bobby Robson will be "looking down on him" when he takes charge of the team against Burnley.

Carver and Steve Stone have been named as temporary managers, with Alan Pardew poised to join Crystal Palace.

Robson, who died aged 76 in 2009, managed Newcastle for five years.

Carver, 49, said: "He will be there with us. He will be in the technical area, let me tell you that, because I never stop thinking about him."

Carver worked with Robson during the former England manager's spell at St James' Park and took temporary charge of the first team when Robson was sacked in 2004.

Carver said: "For some reason, I started reading Sir Bobby's autobiography this week. There was a message on the front of the book that read 'Thanks for a fantastic, successful five years, it should have been a lot longer. Cheers, Sir Bobby'.

"When he gave me that book, he said to me, 'You do realise how big this football club is, and if ever you get an opportunity, don't be scared of it, enjoy it and take it with both hands'. So I am going to take it with both hands.

"I'm a Catholic and I believe he will be looking down on me, I really do."

Newcastle, who are 10th in the Premier League, accepted an approach from Palace for Pardew on Monday.

Carver said the circumstances of Pardew's expected exit made the situation unusual ahead of the team's Premier League meeting with Burnley on Thursday.

Carver told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It's never ideal but it is totally different to normal circumstances because it's usually because a manager's been sacked that I'm in this position.

"It's pretty unique because managers usually lose their jobs from clubs fighting for their lives. In this situation, that's not the case and it's a really nice feeling.

"It is a strange feeling because he hasn't been sacked and there's a good spirit in the football club, so it's not as if the players are down and disappointed. It's been business as usual."