NOT even a multi-million pound European adventure has detracted the importance of a Tyne-Wear derby from Sir Bobby Robson.

Newcastle United, who returned on Thursday from their unsuccessful Champions League trip to Kiev, can now look forward to testing themselves against football giants Feyenoord and Juventus.

But before those, the Magpies today face their most fierce local rivals who are just a 20-minute trip away.

Magpies chief Robson admits that his side could be playing in the World Cup and the Sunderland clash would still be the one that mattered most.

"This is the biggest game this club ever plays," said the 69-year-old, who has stood on the terraces watching his Geordie heroes since being a young boy.

"We know the games with Man United and Liverpool are exciting. And we know we play Juventus here soon, and that's another wonderland story.

"But this game against Sunderland is about your own area and your own fans. There's nothing bigger than a game against Sunderland and it's absolutely crucial. It's pressure and we're going to enjoy it."

Robson, who recalls Newcastle's derby 2-1 win in the 1948-49 season as the first he witnessed from the terraces, knows there is more at stake than a little pride today.

His men sit second-bottom in the Premiership - without a win since the opening day 4-0 defeat of West Ham - while Peter Reid's outfit are just a place above.

And there is no way the Newcastle chief would underestimate the importance of the clash between two of the region's big three - like a certain Ruud Gullit did in 1999.

The Dutchman tagged it as just another game; he named star striker Alan Shearer on the bench; Sunderland won 2-1 and it was the sack for Gullit.

Robson, whose side have not claimed a derby win on home soil since the April victory in 1993, said: "The team that wins goes up and the team that doesn't is in an even worse situation in the League. It's huge.

"We have both had poor starts, we're both at the wrong end of the table.

"But what makes it most important is that you don't let the enemy invade your land, do you? And that's why castles were built and we are Newcastle!"

A 12.15pm kick-off for the derby has not helped Robson's men recover from their trek to the Ukraine in midweek, and he has booked a night in a city hotel for his players to ensure they are firmly focused on the task in hand.

"We'll have our pre-match meal at 8.45am, which is bizarre," he said. "Imagine eating pasta and cauliflower at 8.45 in the morning, but there it is."

Defeat for Newcastle today is unlikely to lead to Robson leaving his post, whereas should the Black Cats lose the pressure will again be piling on under-fire boss Reid.

But Robson is convinced, whatever the result today, both clubs will quickly climb out of the bottom three.

"I feel quite firm about it that both Sunderland and Newcastle will get out of trouble eventually," he said.

"It's September and it's not about how you start it's about the finish. Anything can have gone wrong at this stage but it's how you recover.

"Sunderland have lost Phillips of course, which is crucial to them. That Phillips-Quinn partnership has done well for them but that's gone now.

"I have a feeling they might go defensive and we might have to make the play. It's dangerous and that's the magic of the game."

Robson, who played without attacking wide-men against Dynamo Kiev, will bring back wingers Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano today.

And the Newcastle chief insists he will be urging his players to go on the offensive in front of their own fans, after going three games without scoring.

"We scored a lot of goals last year, so the goals are not going to dry up over night," said Robson, who has Alan Shearer fit after recovering from a head wound.

"I think we will soon get back on to it. We've got Speed, Dyer, Nobby, Shearer, Bellamy - when he is fully fit - Robert and that shows we've got enough fuel in the tank to get us there.

"The next thing is for us to ease the pressure on our defenders and that is by scoring."

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