A team of soccer-loving students from Malaysia are in a quandary as to who they will support when Newcastle Utd takes part in the FA Premier League Asia Cup, which kicks off tomorrow.

The young Malaysians, who are studying at Newcastle University, regularly play in five and six-a-side inter-university matches, and are such big fans of Newcastle United that they have adopted the team's famous black and white kit as their own.

Ahmad Aslam Kamarudin, Huzaimi Kassim, Amir Fazly Nazri, and Helmy Haja-Mydin, grew up in Malaysia supporting their national team.

But they admit that they haven't decided whether they would like Newcastle or Malaysia to win the tournament, which takes place from July 24-27 in Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Aslam Kamarudin, who is studying for an MSc in mechanical engineering, said: "Most of us will still be in England for the tournament, so we'll be watching it on television.

"We'll be supporting both Newcastle and Malaysia in their first round matches. But if Newcastle meet Malaysia in the next stage, we really won't know which team to cheer on.

"We will all be feeling divided loyalties as we watch the game."

Huzaimi Kassim, who is studying English language, said one of the reasons he had come to Newcastle was for the football. "I've been crazy about football since I was young," he said. "I even used to have a book by Malcolm MacDonald, one of Newcastle United's best ever strikers, about how to shoot."

The team of students are all members of the Malaysian Society at the University and have named their team after it - 'Newcastle University Malaysian Society FC'.

The FA Premier League Asia Cup kicks off today when Newcastle play Birmingham. The following day, Malaysia play Chelsea.

The losers of the two first-round matches have a play-off on 26 July and the winners play in the final on 27 July. All matches are at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.