PATRICK Kluivert has handed Graeme Souness a massive boost by declaring himself fit for this weekend's Premiership clash with fellow European hopefuls Liverpool.

The Dutch international, who has not started a league game since Boxing Day, has struggled to make an impression since his summer move from Spanish giants Barcelona.

His last league goal came in mid-December. But in his last two outings for the Magpies Kluivert has shown enough to suggest he could still be an influential figure in the final three months of the season.

He impressed in the first leg of Newcastle's UEFA Cup win over Heerenveen, setting up both goals in the Abe Lenstra Stadion, before underlining his ability by heading home the winner against Chelsea three days later.

Unfortunately, that FA Cup win came at a price with Kluivert suffering a groin strain which kept him out of the return match with Heerenveen and last weekend's domestic clash with Bolton.

Newcastle won both games without him but, with Shola Ameobi suffering a dip in form, Souness' side have looked somewhat short of firepower in their last two outings.

Kluivert's return would represent a timely boost as the Magpies look to maintain their momentum and achieve the top-six finish that would guarantee them European football next term.

After taking part in a full training session with the rest of the United squad yesterday, the former Ajax striker has thrown his name into the hat for Saturday's visit of Liverpool.

Kluivert is keen to extend his stay at St James' Park beyond the end of the season. But with Souness and chairman Freddy Shepherd re-assessing his position in May, much will depend on how he performs in the final months of the campaign.

Souness has yet to decide on Kluivert's fate, but the manager has already drawn a line under Craig Bellamy's career on Tyneside.

The exiled striker, who has been told he will have to make a permanent move this summer, has few friends left at St James' Park.

While he has only made two appearances for his temporary employers, Celtic, he has already attracted a new legion of enemies north of the border.

The Scottish press have been queuing up to take a pop at the 25-year-old after Clyde captain Darren Sheridan slammed his conduct in last weekend's Scottish Cup tie at the Broadwood Stadium.

Sheridan has claimed that Bellamy boasted about his wealth and mockingly offered him a job as his gardener this summer.

The Wales international was no stranger to the odd verbal volley during his time on Tyneside. But by taunting a fellow professional about his relative lack of worth Bellamy stands accused of crossing a line of acceptability.

"He was on the pitch going on about how much money he was on," said Sheridan. "He is a top player but he just never shuts up.

"He was going on at everyone in our team. Let the football do the talking with his ability and he could shut anyone up. He was worse than my kids."

Bhoys boss Martin O'Neill has defended his striker's actions, and claimed that certain sections of the Scottish media were desperate for him to fail as soon as he set foot in Glasgow.

"It's not something that will mean me sitting down with him," he said. "Although the number of articles written about him suggest it does need somebody sitting down with him and counselling him every ten seconds.

"I am sure he would be surprised at the number of headlines that have been written about him in such a short space of time."

* Jermaine Jenas is looking forward to seeing some familiar faces in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, whoever wins tonight's replay between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.

The midfielder made 33 appearances for Forest before Sir Bobby Robson shelled out £5m to take him to Tyneside in February 2002.

He will be lining up against most of his former team-mates if the Championship side triumph to set up a last-eight visit to St James' Park this month.

But even if Spurs win Jenas will still be meeting up with some old friends in the next round.

The London side signed Andy Reid and Michael Dawson from Forest in the transfer window and, while the duo are both cup-tied,they will still ensure a reunion of sorts in 10 days' time.

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