TEENAGER James Milner hopes Newcastle United's UEFA Cup run will start to have an immediate influence on the Magpies's poor Premiership form.

Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon arrive at St James' Park tonight knowing that Graeme Souness' side have won all of their five European games so far this season.

But victories over Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin (twice), Sochaux, Panionios and Dinamo Tblisi have not had the impact most would have liked on Tyneside.

Instead Newcastle, who are back on league duty when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday, have slipped down the league table and are now closer to the relegation zone than they are to fifth-placed Middlesbrough.

But Milner, having played a part in every one of Newcastle's successes in Europe this season, is hoping topping Group D, by earning the necessary point against Sporting, will have a positive effect domestically.

"The UEFA Cup is a good chance for us. We have shown some good form in this competition and we will be looking to put in a good performance, not only to get the point but to get the confidence going," said the 18-year-old, who celebrates his birthday on January 4.

"All footballers want to play in Europe and I'm no different.

"It is important that we pick up at least a draw and that will make sure we finish in first place and avoid the teams coming in from the Champions League.

"If we can do that then it will also give us heart looking ahead to the Christmas period and we will be looking to take our UEFA Cup form into the League."

After tonight's final group fixture in the UEFA Cup all eyes from Newcastle switch back to the Premiership, where Souness' men need points over the festive period.

However, the match at Anfield is followed by a tricky trip to Souness' former employers Blackburn on Boxing Day and a home game with champions Arsenal, so points will not come easy.

Milner agreed with the manager's decision to scrap the Christmas party this year.

"The most important thing is to work hard over Christmas and get the right results," said the former Leeds midfielder.

"We must find our form in the Premiership and go on a good run. There are a lot of games over Christmas and they are all tough .

"Results have not been going for us but we know we are not a million miles away from getting things right.

"It's just the occasional concentration slip and I think if we can put that right we can go far in the UEFA Cup and in the Premiership."

With Frenchman Laurent Robert sidelined through injury, Milner is likely to be given a further chance to stake a claim for the left midfield role he occupied against Portsmouth on Saturday.

And Souness said: "We will have young players playing and it will be good experience for them.

"We are faced with playing some people out of position - playing square pegs in round holes so to speak, and that's the situation.

"We will be addressing that at the earliest possible chance."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.