UEFA Cup place still in the Magpies sights

The United boss made the claim with the dust yet to settle on rumours circulating St James' Park suggesting they may resort to the much-maligned Intertoto Cup as a route back into Europe after a turbulent season languishing in the bottom half of the Premiership.

But, boosted by a recent run of improved results and with ten league games to go and only six points separating fifth and 11th place, the United boss is convinced the club can finish in the top six.

"If we're going to finish fifth or sixth in the league now is when we have to make our move," said a bullish Souness.

"There are 30 points to play for and we have to get as many of them as possible.

"I think the top four positions in the league have gone and have been for several weeks. We are looking to finish as high as we possibly can."

Buoyed by eight consecutive victories, the Magpies have every right to believe this is possible as they fly to Portsmouth this morning in search of an unprecedented and historic ninth win on the bounce.

Newcastle's 4-0 demolition of Olympiacos in Wednesday's UEFA Cup fifth round equalled a feat achieved on only four other occasions, in 1909, 1927, 1994 and 1995.

But Souness says Pompey will provide the Magpies with one of their toughest obstacles on their way to achieving the deed.

"We couldn't be playing a harder game," he said.

"We are on a good run and they are on a bad run.

"We have to expect them to be full of fire and determined to end this run.

"They're fighting for their lives."

Souness once again played down suggestions he had finally won over the United fans.

Some supporters were heard singing 'walking in a Souness wonderland' towards the latter stages of Newcastle's comprehensive victory over Olympiacos on Wednesday.

"I don't think you could do this job if you were worried about what people said about you," he said. "You have to have rhinoceros skin to do it. That is not unique to me or to this club but it is nice to be loved. We all need a wee bit of it. I'm also a realist and I know we are not going to be 4-0 up in every home game."

The United boss also conceded he knows how events can quickly change and conspire against you.

He said: "All we have done is get ourselves into a semi-final (FA Cup) and a quarter-final (UEFA Cup) and are on a wee bit of a run. I know how quickly that can all fall apart, starting tomorrow.

"All I want to do is look as far as the next game and the next game can certainly end our run.

"If we go to Portsmouth tomorrow thinking we only have to turn up because we have won the last eight games I guarantee we will get beaten."

Souness puts the renaissance down to the return of the club's big-hitters coupled with the effect his three new signings have had.

"There are no mysteries in football," he said.

"You can usually put your finger on things when they are not going well. We had a bad run because Alan Shearer, Nicky Butt and Stephen Carr were out; we didn't have Amdy Faye and Jean Alain Boumsong. We've brought three players in and that has improved us.

"In my experience of football you only find out about people when the going gets tough, and that's the same in life. You find out who your mates are then.

"I was never upset or alarmed about the football we were playing. I was upset by the kind of the goals we were conceding. The obvious difference now is that we haven't been guilty in the last eight games of giving daft goals away, which sapped our confidence.

"Now we are a team playing with confidence and you can see the difference around the place on match days. People are chirpier, the dressing room is full of winners and personalities and great togetherness. But I'm only interested in seeing that when our backs are against the wall."

l Newcastle's involvement in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Sunday, April 17, means their Premiership game with Norwich City at Carrow Road has been put back a day from Tuesday to Wednesday April 20.