AMDY FAYE has described how Newcastle United are hoping the pain suffered at White Hart Lane can act as a spur to the Magpies' push for a silverware double.

Faye was steady defensively on Sunday when Newcastle lost 1-0 at Tottenham, a defeat that has left Graeme Souness' side hovering harmlessly at the lower end of the table, having failed to win any of their last three league matches.

But Souness' men can't afford to wallow in self-pity as they fly to Portugal this morning ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final with Sporting Lisbon.

Newcastle hold a one-goal advantage going into the second leg at the Estadio Jose Alvalade and if they can score one goal in the Portuguese capital there will be a strong chance of a European semi-final for the second year in a row.

The St James' Park outfit will then travel to south Wales on Friday in preparation for Sunday's FA Cup showdown with Manchester United for a place in the May 21 showpiece at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Bearing in mind what is at stake for Newcastle, who look certain to miss out on a UEFA Cup qualifying place via the Premiership, improvements on the pitch must be made or a season of promise could descend into disaster.

Faye, a January signing from Portsmouth, made the switch from the south coast to the North-East with the intention to enjoy glory - even hoping that this could be Newcastle's year.

But the 28-year-old admits that if Newcastle are to end 36 years without a trophy next month they cannot afford to dwell on what went wrong at Tottenham.

"The Tottenham game is finished, now we have to look forward. The next game is very important for the club, for the fans and for all the players. The FA Cup semi-final is as well," said Faye.

"Every player knows we have a hard game on Thursday. It's very important for the club to qualify for the semi-final. It's vital that we concentrate fully on the next couple of games."

With Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer suspended at Tottenham, and Patrick Kluivert ruled out through injury, Newcastle should at least be able to recall the pugilistic pair for Thursday's game in Lisbon - provided Dyer recovers from a hamstring problem.

And, with both Dyer and Bowyer back, Faye insists a UEFA Cup semi-final place with either Villarreal or AZ Alkmaar is within Newcastle's grasp.

"Some players didn't play at Tottenham because they were suspended or injured but I think it's possible for us to go to Lisbon and qualify," said the Senegalese international.

"In the first half we didn't play well at all at Tottenham. Every player was a little tired but we had some chances to score. We were really disappointed and it was a frustrating way to lose."

The best news to come from Tottenham was that Alan Shearer, who suffered a dead leg after a collision with Anthony Gardner, should have recovered in time to play in both vital cup matches.

Shearer revealed: "It happened early on and I wasn't 100 per cent from that point. With the games on Thursday and Sunday coming up it was wise to take me off. That was the only reason."

Newcastle, along with Middlesbrough, have learnt that they could face a trip to Turkey this summer if they do find themselves seeking a backdoor route into Europe via the InterToto Cup.

Both the region's Premiership sides have applied to enter the much-maligned competition as a last resort if a place is not secured by the end of the campaign.

In a draw in Nyon yesterday it emerged that the higher of the Premiership's two entrants will play a team from Turkey's Super League in the third round - providing the Turks can see off the winner of the first-round clash between Hungarian and Slovakian clubs.

The weaker, by league standing, English club will enter at the second round stage and will play a side from either Romania or Bosnia-Herzegovina.

If either Boro or Newcastle qualify for the UEFA Cup outright then the draw could alter, particularly as the only other entry, Crystal Palace, will not be able to take part if they are relegated this season.

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