GRAEME Souness is confident of being able to call upon his most opinionated weapon as Newcastle aim to reach the second round of the UEFA Cup in Israel tomorrow night.

The United boss has spent the first two weeks of his St James' Park reign getting to know the players under his control - and none has made as instant an impact upon him as striker Craig Bellamy.

The Wales international has still to score under his new manager. But after impressing in an unorthodox midfield role during the 2-1 win at Southampton, he was back to his impudent best as an attacker during the first half of Saturday's 3-1 win over West Brom.

That victory came at a cost, with an ankle injury forcing Bellamy off in the early stages of the second half and making him a doubt for tomorrow night's UEFA Cup clash with Israeli minnows Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin.

His commitment has impressed Souness in the two weeks he has been in control of the Magpies, but it hasn't just been on the pitch that the 25-year-old has caught the eye.

The Scot is currently in his 36th year in football. But in all that time he has never encountered a player with the attitude and charisma of United's Welsh wonder.

"I have never seen, or played with, or coached a top player who didn't have an opinion about himself," said Souness, who will be defending a 100 per cent record as Newcastle boss in Tel Aviv's Ramat Gan Stadium.

"That opinion is 'I'm the best thing since sliced bread' - you can't have a top player who isn't thinking like that.

"The top players are like that, but some keep it to themselves more than others. Craig gives us something different, and I don't just mean on the pitch.

"He's different from Alan Shearer, Shola Ameobi and Patrick Kluivert. But with all of them I believe we've got as good a strikeforce as any of the other top teams in the country. Craig's not 100 per cent, but he's travelled and I'm confident he will be fit."

Bellamy is United's only significant injury doubt, although the Magpies will be without midfielder Nicky Butt following his rash dismissal in the first leg.

With Kieron Dyer likely to be out for another month because of his hamstring problem, United's central midfield resources are starting to look somewhat stretched.

Lee Bowyer and Jermaine Jenas will form the central axis tomorrow, with the former enjoying his best run of form since his arrival on Tyneside last summer.

The former Leeds midfielder has had his disciplinary problems in the past, with a six-match European ban effectively turning into a 12-match suspension last season because of an administrative oversight.

Bowyer has been booked in every game under Souness. But despite the risk of Sakhnin trying to turn tomorrow's game into a kicking contest, the Scot will not be advising him to curb his natural instincts.

"It's a very thin dividing line," he admitted. "You want players to be competitive. If you ask him (Bowyer) to be less competitive, you would be taking a lot away from his game.

"Midfield can be a frantic place to be. You have to have your wits about you, but I think he enjoys that part of his game and long may it continue.

"He's been playing very well in the short time I've been here and we just want more of the same.

"I think he would like to have scored a few goals but that will come for him. He's scored goals for every team he's played for."

Souness opted to rest Bellamy and Shearer as Newcastle won 2-0 in the first leg and, with a tricky Premiership trip to Birmingham coming up on Sunday, the United boss could tinker again in an attempt to keep his squad fresh.

Laurent Robert is itching for a start after being dropped to the bench for the wins against Southampton and West Brom.

With Jenas tucking inside, the French winger is likely to find himself in a remodelled midfield that could include teenager James Milner.

Read more about the Jesters here.