ALAN Shearer last night urged his Newcastle team-mates to render the club's Intertoto Cup entry irrelevant as they prepare for the two games in four days that will make or break their season.

United officials yesterday confirmed that the club have entered the much-derided pre-season tournament - along with Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace - in order to provide a safety net should they fail to qualify for Europe by any other means.

Continental competition has become the norm on Tyneside in recent years, with Newcastle playing in either the UEFA Cup or the Champions League in seven of the last nine seasons.

But, after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham removed any chance of a top-six finish in the Premiership, the next seven days will go a long way towards determining whether the Magpies continue to mix with the European elite next season.

A win or a draw in tomorrow night's UEFA Cup clash with Sporting Lisbon would be enough to take Newcastle into the last four of the competition, while victory over Manchester United on Sunday would earn the club's third FA Cup final appearance of the last eight years.

That would be enough to guarantee European football should Arsenal beat Blackburn in the other semi-final and, after touching down in Portugal yesterday, Shearer slammed suggestions that the Intertoto Cup could yet scupper his summer plans.

"The Intertoto doesn't bother me one little bit to be honest," said Shearer, who will be looking to maintain his record of scoring in every UEFA Cup game this season in Lisbon's Jose Alvalade Stadium tomorrow. "It's news to me - I've only just heard it - but it's of no interest.

"This is a huge week for us. These are two massive games and it would give us a hige lift to take into Sunday's game if we were already in one semi-final.

"We have to make sure that we're in Europe next season as a result of having won something."

Shearer limped out of Sunday's defeat to Spurs with a dead leg but, after returning to training yesterday, the United skipper is confident of being fit enough to face a Sporting side who will be without their leading marksman, the suspended Liedson.

Graeme Souness was also given a further fitness boost ahead of tomorrow's game when centre-half Titus Bramble took part in his first full training session since undergoing a hernia operation last month.

Bramble, who has not figured since the FA Cup win over Spurs, has been targeting Sunday's trip to the Millennium Stadium for a first-team return.

But, while Souness insists he will be taking no unnecessary gambles in Portugal, he will not err on the side of caution should Bramble be fit enough to feature.

"At this moment, he's better than 50-50," revealed the United boss. "These are the kind of difficult decisions that, as a manager, I am paid to make.

"My attitude is always that the next game is the most important, so I won't have the FA Cup game in my mind when I decide whether or not to play Titus.

"If we don't play him thinking he will be alright for Sunday, we don't want to be sat after the game thinking about what a mistake we made."

With Jean-Alain Boumsong ineligible and Aaron Hughes suspended, Bramble's presence would represent a major boost to a Newcastle backline who know they can guarantee a semi-final spot if they can keep a clean sheet.

The 23-year-old is reluctant to take any risks but, after missing five weeks at such a crucial stage of the campaign, is determined to play his part against Sporting.

"I want to play and I wouldn't be travelling if I didn't think I could play," said Bramble.

"Having this match and the FA Cup semi-final has given me something to aim for. I've been desperate to play in what would be two of the biggest matches of my career.

"Sunday might be a safer bet, but I'm ready to play if the manager needs me.

"In fact, playing on Thusrday might actually help me against Manchester United because I will have a competitive game under my belt."

Kieron Dyer should be also be available tomorrow after a scan showed no damage to his hamstring, but goalkeeper Shay Given remains a serious doubt.

The Republic of Ireland international is still struggling with a hip problem and, while he will train later today in an attempt to prove his fitness, the chances of him lining up in Lisbon remain remote.

"I don't know if I'm going to be okay yet or not," admitted Given. "I'm going to try some sort of training on Wednesday and we'll have a better idea then.

"I've been taking painkillers and anti-inflamattory drugs in the hope the problem clears up in time. It will be a massive disappointment if I miss out because this is such an important game for Newcastle."

Given's stand-in, Steve Harper, dropped a clanger against Spurs but, despite his first-half error handing Jermain Defoe the winner on a plate, Souness will not hesitate in naming the number two in his side for the second game in a row.