ALAN Shearer expects Newcastle to enjoy the equivalent of two home games when they take on Dutch side Heerenveen in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

The Magpies will travel to the Abe Lenstra Stadium on February 16 or 17, with the return leg taking place at St James' Park a week later.

Holland has proved a happy hunting ground for United in the past, with Craig Bellamy grabbing a dramatic last-minute winner against Feyenoord two seasons ago, booking a place in the latter stages of the Champions League in the process, and both NAC Breda and PSV Eindhoven being brushed aside en route to the semi-finals of last season's UEFA Cup.

All three of those games saw thousands of Newcastle fans crossing the North Sea and, with Heerenveen lying just an hour north of Amsterdam, Graeme Souness' side can expect to receive similarly staunch support in two months' time.

''It's not a bad draw for us,'' said Shearer, who will line up against either Olympiakos or Sochaux - who Newcastle beat 4-0 last month - if the Magpies come out on top in February.

"We could have got a lot worse. We are not having to travel too far. We are not playing a side from Eastern Europe, as we could have done if we had come second in the group.

"The best thing about it is that we will have tremendous support because it's quite a short trip and the fans will have got their Christmas expenses out of the way.

"It's not too far to travel and the lads will be happy that it's not too far to come back to prepare for the next Premiership game.

"The other good thing is that we are playing a Dutch side, so you can guarantee they will play football."

Heerenveen, who sold Jon-Dahl Tomasson to Newcastle in 1997, have yet to win a major trophy and, despite finishing fourth in the Dutch top-flight last season, director Henk Hoekstra admits his side will go into the tie as underdogs.

"Newcastle are the favourites because the Premier League is much stronger than the Dutch league," he said.

"But we have a good young side and this is an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Everyone has a chance and we are very pleased with the draw."

Middlesbrough will have to travel a little further than their North-Eastern rivals after they were paired with Austrian side Graz AK in yesterday's draw.

Boro will be the third British side to face Graz this season after Liverpool earned a 2-1 aggregate win in the qualifying stage of the Champions League - despite losing 1-0 at Anfield - and Rangers won 3-0 at Ibrox in the group phase of the UEFA Cup.

McClaren will enlist the help of both Rafael Benitez and Alex McLeish as he looks to guide Boro into the last 16 and, after taking on the likes of Banik Ostrava and Egaleo this season, is happy his side have avoided another trip into the unknown.

"I am certainly delighted we are not heading somewhere like the Ukraine or Russia," admitted the Boro boss. "This is a good opportunity for us.

"It's the last 32 and no game would have been easy, but it's a good draw for us. They are the Austrian champions, so they have a good pedigree.

"They played Liverpool in the Champions League qualifiers. They lost 2-0 at home but won 1-0 at Anfield, so they are no mugs and it will be a test for us.

"It's their winter break now and our game with them will be their first one back. I am not sure whether that will be a hindrance or a help.

"I suppose it will hinder us in our preparations because we will not see them play, though they may have a couple of friendlies.

"Then again, it may be an advantage because they will have had a period where they have not played."

Boro will face either Sporting Lisbon or Feyenoord if they are able to see off Graz.

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