ALAN Shearer last night urged Newcastle to take a leaf out of Celtic's book after they were handed a Spanish inquisition in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup.

The Magpies will face Real Mallorca after seeing off Norwegian side Valarenga this week, with the Spaniards visiting Tyneside next Thursday before United make the return trip to Palma a fortnight later.

Success over those two legs would leave Newcastle in the last eight and within touching distance of their first European final for 35 years.

That prospect seemed a long way off as Sir Bobby Robson's side were huffing and puffing their way past limited opposition on Wednesday night.

But, after watching Scottish champions Celtic go all the way to the final in last year's UEFA Cup, Shearer sees no reason why Newcastle cannot repeat the feat.

"Our aim has to be to win this competition," said Shearer. "We have to try to take a leaf out of Celtic's book. They got to the final last year, so why can't we?

"The UEFA Cup represents a big chance for us to win something, without a doubt, but 15 other teams will be thinking the same as we are.

"We're in this competition to win it - if that wasn't the case there would be no point being in it.

"Celtic showed what's possible last year and, once you get to the final, it's anyone's cup."

With Valencia and Barcelona also in their side of the draw, Mallorca look the opponents that, on paper at least, offer the best chance of keeping Newcastle's UEFA Cup dreams alive.

The Spaniards, who sold injury-prone centre-half Marcelino to Newcastle in 1999, are currently struggling four places from the foot of La Liga after winning just eight of their 26 games this season.

But they brushed aside Spartak Moscow to make the last 16 and Shearer has warned his team-mates against the dangers of complacency as they turn their attention to next week's first leg.

"It's the big boys that are in the competition now and so it will be a tough time for us," he said. "We are aware that we have to step up another level.

"There's no lack of effort or workrate or determination or courage, or whatever you want, we're just not playing great football.

"But we've only been beaten twice in 20 games now so we must be doing something right. We're not playing great football, but we're grinding out results and that's what's important.

"Valerenga pushed us very hard but there are no pushovers in the last 32 of a European competition.

"We're in the last 16 now so we've got to hope that we can step up another gear, because we'll have to."

Robson was quick to criticise his side for their laboured first-half showing on Wednesday night and, while happy to have avoided the other Spanish giants left in the competition, the United boss is taking nothing for granted.

He led Barcelona to Cup Winners Cup success in 1997 and is only too aware of how dangerous Spanish sides can be on their own turf.

"It's a satisfying draw for us," said Robson. "We have missed the really big guns in Barcelona and Valencia but make no mistake about it, it's a hard draw.

"You have to respect all the teams in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup and, having worked for two years in Spain, I know how tough and competitive their league is.

"They have some excellent players and, in Samuel Eto'o, have one of the best strikers in Europe."

It isn't just opposition strikers that Robson will have to worry about next week as Newcastle are almost certain to be without Craig Bellamy after he suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of Wednesday's game.

The Welshman underwent a scan yesterday which is expected to show enough damage to keep him sidelined for at least a week.

With Kieron Dyer and Darren Ambrose already ruled out because of injury, and Lee Bowyer still suspended, Robson will be short of attacking options on Thursday night.

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