JERMAINE JENAS insists that Newcastle's UEFA Cup visit to PSV Eindhoven is "like being back in the Champions League''.

Midfielder Jenas, hoping to return for tonight's game after missing Saturday's 4-2 home win over Everton with a tendon injury, revelled in the rarefied atmosphere of last season's Champions League, when the Magpies memorably reached the last 16.

Their penalty shoot-out elimination by Partizan Belgrade at St. James' Park in August's qualifier for this season's competition, was a shattering blow to Sir Bobby Robson's side and one that cost them an estimated £12m.

But the UEFA Cup provided a European safety net, and with either Marseille or Inter Milan lying in wait if PSV are overcome, Jenas says United have rediscovered their taste for the big occasions.

The England international, who faced Inter at the San Siro in last season's Champions League, said: "The excitement is there in the UEFA Cup now - it's like being in the Champions League again.

"If you look at the teams left in the UEFA Cup, they all Champions League teams and have played in it in the past. It makes you realise what you are missing.

"We can't choose between whether we want to finish fourth in the Premiership and qualify for the Champions League, or win the UEFA Cup, but personally I'd love to be back in the Champions League.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it last year and I want to be there again. It's great to play against the big clubs in Europe but, then again, we'd love to win some silverware for Newcastle.''

Jenas stressed: "We've had some good performances in Europe this season, but it's crunch time now.

"There has been a lot of talk about it being a disappointing season, but we're in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals and going for a place in the Champions League, so it could be a very successful season for Newcastle - the most successful in recent history.

"We know we've been inconsistent this season, and we just have to make sure we end it on a high.''

Jenas was in the side that snatched a sensational last-gasp 3-2 victory against PSV's rivals Feyenoord in Rotterdam last season to secure a place in the second group stage of the Champions League.

"It's all a bit of a blur now,'' confessed Jenas. "We were comfortable at 2-0, but maybe our inexperience showed.

"We let them back into it but we got the winner late on. It was one of the best experiences since I've been at the club.''

With key midfielder Kieron Dyer having announced his recovery from a hamstring injury by scoring against Everton, Jenas is vying with Darren Ambrose for the wide-right role.

Jenas, looking to book a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for Euro 2004, said: "I didn't think my injury was a bad one, but you always worry it might be. If I'd been injured now, it would have been a disaster for me. I could have missed the rest of the season with Newcastle and England.

"But I've done some running and I should be fine. I think it's good to have competition for places.''

Ambrose, at 20 a year younger than Jenas, just feels lucky to be involved.

Signed from Ipswich just over a year ago in a £1m deal, he has emerged as a serious rival to Lee Bowyer since the departure of crowd favourite Nolberto Solano to Aston Villa.

With Bowyer still serving a European ban, Ambrose has proved vital to United.

"I'm getting a few starts this season and the fans have been brilliant to me,'' said Ambrose, who scored his first Newcastle goal in the 5-0 first-round home win over Dutch side NAC Breda.

"The fans were disappointed when Nobby left, but they've been magnificent to me and I'm grateful for that.

"I was hoping to have a cameo role this season and be a sub, but for the last few weeks I have been having regular starts.

"Once you've had a start at St. James' Park, you want to play in front of those fans all the time.''

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