Craig Bellamy will be taken out of the firing line for Newcastle United's UEFA Cup visit to NAC Breda.

The Welsh international, battling persistent knee problems, needs time to recover from his Euro 2004 qualifying extertions against Serbia & Montenegro ahead of Saturday's vital derby clash with Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

Sir Bobby Robson, who looks ready to rest some of his established stars in Holland tomorrow night, turns to Shola Ameobi to partner skipper Alan Shearer.

With his side 5-0 up from the first leg of the first-round tie at St. James' Park, manager Robson can afford to experiment.

Ameobi, who was in the England Under-21 side beaten in Turkey on Friday, hasn't started a game for United since the 1-0 home defeat by Birmingham City at the end of August.

But, having turned 22 on Sunday, he is now in line for a belated birthday treat.

Ameobi, scorer of three goals in United's Champions League campaign last term, will be eager to add to his European portfolio and break his seasonal duck against embattled Breda, who have lost all three league games since their trip to Tyneside.

l Fabrizio Ravanelli believes it will take an exceptional performance from Dundee to get a win against Perugia in tomorrow's first-round second-leg UEFA Cup match at the Stadio Renato Curi, writesa NEIL ANDREWS.

Former Middlesbrough striker Ravanelli admits his team-mates will have to excel themselves in a match he will watch from the stands because he is ineligible.

He said: ''It's a very difficult game and the team knows that we will need to perform exceptionally well in order to get through to the next round.''

It promises to be an emotional occasion for the former Italian international who returns to the Stadio Renato Curi, the arena where he launched his professional career 17 years ago.

Ravanelli scored 41 goals in 90 appearances in his three-year spell with the Umbrian club but, because he was signed too late by Dundee, he is ineligible for his Scottish club's UEFA Cup squad.

''I would have liked to play but unfortunately I will not be able to help my teammates,'' said the 34-year-old.

''On Wednesday, my heart will be with Dundee. But if a team has to defeat us I would rather it is my home-town team rather than any other club.''

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.