WHILE Newcastle's players were labouring to a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth last weekend, the club's fans were bemoaning the lack of a ball-playing midfielder able to offer something out of the ordinary.

This evening, such a player will be in attendance at St James' Park. But, rather than helping the Magpies finish the UEFA Cup group phase on a high, Hugo Viana will be sitting in the stands hoping his permanent employers come a cropper.

The Portuguese international - a former European Young Player of the Year no less - will be rooting for his current club, Sporting Lisbon, after being banished to his homeland on a season-long loan in July.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and plenty of Viana's 61 appearances in a black and white shirt have been far from spectacular.

But, given the paucity of creative talent currently available to Graeme Souness, it is tempting to wonder what might have been had Sir Bobby Robson not chosen to cut his losses this summer.

The confident and composed Viana currently strutting his stuff in Lisbon's Jose Alvalade Stadium is certainly a very different beast to the timid 20-year-old who trudged disconsolately from the field after suffering stage-fright in last season's UEFA Cup semi-final in Marseille.

Back then, Viana was still struggling to adapt to a foreign land but, after five months back on home soil, the midfielder seems to have remembered why Robson shelled out £8.5m on him in the first place.

He has scored five goals in 13 games to keep Sporting within two points of league leaders Boavista - more than the whole of Newcastle's midfield this evening put together - and has rediscovered the verve and vitality that first saw him emerge as Europe's next big thing.

"I feel very settled and very happy back in Lisbon," said Viana, who is prevented from playing in tonight's game by the terms of his loan deal.

"I've been away from Newcastle for six months now and it's good to be back. I would be happier being allowed to play, but that was out of my hands.

"I'm looking forward to watching the game and I want to see all of my old friends again.

"I hope Newcastle go far in the UEFA Cup this season, but I'd like them to finish as runners-up in the group.

"It will be a very strange night for me, but I have to be professional.

"This season, I'm a Sporting player - they are paying my wages so my loyalty is towards them."

His future, though, could still be with Newcastle.

Before taking his seat for tonight's game, Viana will discuss his long-term plans with both Souness and Newcastle chairman, Freddy Shepherd.

Nothing will be decided but, with the Magpies hardly awash with attacking midfield talent, it would be foolish for either of them to burn their bridges at this stage.

Viana's current loan ends in May and, while he is due to become a father for the first time between now and then, he insists he is willing to return in the summer if Newcastle still want him.

"I've still got my house in Newcastle," he said.

"I love the city and there's every chance I will come back to St James' Park but, at the moment, I just don't know what the future holds.

"My wife and I are expecting our first child in February.

"I'm pleased my daughter will be born in Portugal and that we will be surrounded by friends and family.

"I always expected that our first child would be born in Newcastle.

"It's very important to me that I make the right decisions during the next few months but, for now, I'm focused on helping Sporting win the title."

He could also end up helping them win the UEFA Cup, although their task will be that much harder if they fail to beat Newcastle tonight.

After Sochaux earned a shock 1-0 win in Portugal this month, the Magpies need only a point against Sporting to top Group D.

That would mean facing a third-placed finisher in February, instead of taking pot luck with a group of Champions League drop-outs that include Valencia, Ajax and Dynamo Kiev.

"I think the team which comes out on top will feel they are more than capable of beating a team which has finished third in the group," said Viana.

"Suddenly, you are on course for the later stages of the tournament, and all the Newcastle players enjoyed last season's run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.

"We need a victory and all United need is a draw, so it will be interesting to see how the match develops.

"I played against Sochaux when we lost at home and I think all the Sporting players were surprised at the way Newcastle over-ran the French side.

"I wasn't surprised that Newcastle won, but 4-0 is an impressive victory away from home against any team in Europe. That could be the result which matters but there's still something for us to play for. We really want that win."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.