GRAEME Souness will have had a few last-minute scares in his managerial career, but rarely can he have been told that his players were in the wrong country on the eve of a crucial European tie.

That was the situation he was faced with last night, though, as Newcastle's travelling party touched down in Basle - the only airport in the world to lie in three different countries.

With the airport serving Switzerland, France and Germany, travellers are faced with a range of options on their arrival, depending on which country they are planning to visit next.

With United heading for Sochaux in the east of France, the club's players should have taken a swift right turn after claiming their baggage to remain in the EU.

Instead, a fair proportion went straight on and ended up in neutral Switzerland - much to the distress of a host of Newcastle officials.

A diplomatic incident was narrowly avoided when airport staff opened a rarely-used side door to reveal a corridor of opportunity that allowed one of the swiftest border crossings imaginable.

The corridor is not the only disputed territory in Basle, as the main road into and out of the airport is one of the few strips of land in the world to officially belong to nowhere.

So as we headed for the French hills we found ourselves in no-man's land - somewhere where the more critical might suggest certain Newcastle defenders would feel quite at home.

It felt like a fourth country should have been added to the list of nations represented by Basle yesterday - Scotland.

The airport was over-run by Edinburgh's finest arriving ahead of Hearts' UEFA Cup clash in the town.

The Jambo contingent were full of life - and one of Scotland's most famous and alcoholic exports - and were quick to greet Newcastle's travelling party.

Unsurprisingly, Graeme Souness was praised to the rafters thanks to his numerous appearances for the national side, with most fans pleading him to return to take over from the recently deposed Berti Vogts.

Plenty of observers felt he had taken on a mammoth task by promising to deliver Newcastle's first trophy in 35 years when he replaced Sir Bobby Robson at the start of the season.

That task looks like a walk in the park though, compared to resurrecting the fortunes of a side who lost 4-1 at home to Sweden earlier this month. Suddenly, the United hotseat must look a welcoming place indeed.

Newcastle's players were met by the usual autograph hunters before they boarded their plane for France and, while most youngsters left with a smile on their face, one found his book somewhat bereft of names when he was forced to call it a day.

Second-choice goalkeeper Steve Harper made a point of signing everything that was put in front of him, although even he turned the other cheek when approached by this particular signature seeker.

A little harsh? Perhaps - although a Sunderland shirt is not the best attire to wear when approaching someone who is a Newcastle fan through and through!