GARY SPEED insists Andy O'Brien's trench warfare spirit is exactly what Newcastle need against Sam Allardyce's Bolton fighters at the Reebok Stadium tomorrow.

Republic of Ireland international O'Brien stood in at right-back for the injured Aaron Hughes in Thursday's 3-0 UEFA Cup fourth-round second-leg victory over Real Mallorca in Palma.

Sir Bobby Robson's side secured a quarter-final date with the manager's old club, PSV Eindhoven, and midfielder Speed singled out O'Brien for praise.

"Andy is one of the boys you want in the trenches with you,'' said Speed. "He is a fantastic lad who works very hard at his game.

"He usually plays centre-half, but when he was told to play right-back he didn't hesitate for a second because that is the type of person he is. I thought he had a terrific game against Mallorca.

"It's coming to the stage of the season now where every game is vital.

"As an individual, if you are not playing well, it is all about thinking what you can do for the team. If the team is not playing well, you have to get together as a unit and grind out results. That's what we have to do between now and the end of the season.

"It's going to be very hard against Bolton as they have lost their last five games. San Allardyce has a great team spirit at the club and they base it around working hard, so we know how difficult it is going to be.

"If we can match their workrate, we have quality players who can win the game. We lost there 4-3 last season and it was one of those games where we thought we should have won.''

On Thursday, Newcastle kept their first clean sheet in 13 games since the 0-0 draw at Manchester United on January 11.

Goalkeeper Shay Given admitted: "Mallorca had some chances and I was happy to keep them out. I was called on a few times, but it is nice to keep a clean sheet as it has been a fairly long time since the last one.

"We have only been conceding single goals lately, so I knew it was just a matter of time before we kept a team out. It's very pleasing when it comes along.

"I am really looking forward to facing PSV. We thought it would be them after they drew the first leg in Auxerre. It is going to be tough there because they are a good team, but it is the quarter-finals and we are now in the exciting stages of the competition.

"But we have to concentrate on Bolton. I saw the highlights of the match at Arsenal last week and they gave them a really good game. Arsenal were hanging on at the end and that says it all.

"Bolton are not safe from relegation yet and I am sure Sam Allardyce will be telling them that.

"It is a really tough game, but all the matches there are difficult.

"They have had a few bad results lately, but they went to Arsenal and played really well and should have at least drawn, so maybe they have turned the corner.

"Last season we played there on Boxing Day and it was pretty poor.

"We were very disappointing and we have to make sure we do better this time."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.