A shiver still goes down the spine of Newcastle fans when they hear three little words.

No, not "12-point lead" - instead, the mention of Jon Dahl Tomasson's year at Newcastle revives miserable memories of anaemic displays and unfulfilled talent.

Four years on, Tomasson has England in his sights, aiming to replicate the sort of form that has seen him emerge as one of the World Cup's shining stars.

Only Miroslav Klose has scored more than Tomasson in these finals - and three of the German's five goals came in the 8-0 turkey shoot against Saudi Arabia.

Tomasson, 26, is transformed from the figure who resembled a little boy lost during his tortuous season on Tyneside.

The way he manhandled Marcel Desailly, a hulk of a man in comparison, out of the way before sealing France's World Cup fate with Denmark's second goal on Tuesday gave a glimpse of the confidence and desire that is coursing through his body.

Now, with England standing between the Danes and a second successive World Cup quarter-final place on Saturday, Tomasson wants to exorcise the ghosts of his lost season at Newcastle.

He has scored four goals in three group games, against Uruguay, Senegal and then the French - he hit the net just three times for Newcastle in 23 league appearances.

Peter Beardsley, who witnessed Tomasson's painful introduction to English football first-hand, fears Saturday will be payback time.

"Jon's a big threat to England. Scoring four goals in three World Cup games takes some doing and he's scored with virtually every chance he's had," said Beardsley.

"Strikers can have spells when everything goes in and that's what's happening with Jon.

"It reminds me of Alan Shearer at Euro 96. Before the competition he couldn't score for love nor money, then the goals started flying in for him. Let's just hope Jon's purple patch doesn't continue against England.

"I'm not at all surprised he's done so well because when he first joined Newcastle he was magnificent. We played in pre-season tournaments in Dublin and at Goodison, and his performances were outstanding. I remember playing alongside him against Ajax and he was a pleasure to partner.

"At that time, everyone thought he would go on to make a huge impact. Watching him at close quarters, he was a frightening talent.

"But by the time I left Newcastle two months later, he was struggling.

"It could all have been so different had he scored on his league debut at home to Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the season. He was clean through just seconds into the game but he fluffed it. From that day, he was never the same player.

"He's a confidence player, like so many forwards, and that miss affected him. He's a lovely lad with a smashing personality, and those who were at Newcastle with him will be genuinely pleased the World Cup's gone so well for him. But he was right player at the right club at the wrong time."

Ironically, Tomasson blamed his absence from Denmark's 1998 World Cup squad on his disastrous move to Newcastle.

But after a highly-successful time at Feyenoord, whom he helped win the UEFA Cup last month, he will join AC Milan on a Bosman transfer in time for the start of next season.

Beardsley added: "He's proved since he left Newcastle what a fine player he is. You don't lose your talent and he's now got the move he deserves to Italy.

"If Alan Shearer had been fit, we'd have seen a different Tomasson.

"But Alan had a serious injury, Les Ferdinand had been sold along with me and David Ginola had gone. So the lad often had to play in attack on his own.