PERUVIAN winger Nolberto Solano has urged Newcastle United to make the Champions' League an annual adventure.

Bobby Robson's side clinched a place in the third qualifying round of Europe's elite competition by finishing fourth in the Premiership.

United are now on the threshold of a return to the Champions' League proper, five years after their first appearance in the tournament.

But Solano, who has waited four seasons since his £2.5m arrival from Argentinian giants Boca Juniors for a crack at the cream of Europe, is already hungry for more.

He said: "We're not in the Champions' League yet, we have to get through the qualifying round, but we're very close and that's fantastic.

"We talked about the UEFA Cup before the start of the season but we have a very strong team and squad, and we have a real chance of qualifying for the Champions' League.

"Maybe two months ago we had a chance of winning the title, but we had a difficult couple of weeks; we had to play Arsenal and Liverpool and we lost the chance.

"But we've done better than we hoped and now we must look to next season.

"If we are in the Champions' League, it will be hard because we will have to play nearly every week.

"But it's a great competition and you could be playing Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, whoever.

"You're playing against some of the best players and biggest teams in Europe and it's a great chance for us to show people how good Newcastle are. I can't wait for the big clubs to come to St. James' Park, because the fans deserve it.

"We're a big club and we need to try to stay in the Champions' League for a long time because the club deserves it.''

Solano has started 51 of United's 52 games since missing their opening Premiership fixture at Chelsea, and with 12 goals to boot - including four in the Intertoto Cup - he believes this has been his best season for the Magpies.

"I've been very lucky because I haven't had any injuries," he admitted. "It has been a long season, but I feel I've done very well. I have been working very hard because my ambition was to get into Europe and we've done that.

"It has probably been my best season. When I first came here it was hard because you have to fight for the ball all the time.

"I'm not really a strong man but sometimes in the Premiership you have to be strong.

"Playing good football is not enough. You have to be strong first and then you can do your job.''

* Jaap Stam insists he has no intention of leaving Lazio for Newcastle.

The Holland centre-back is understood to have been a potential £12m target for the Magpies.

But the former Manchester United defender hardly endeared himself to Tyneside when he said: "I know Newcastle finished in a Champions' League place, but Lazio is still the club for me.

"I have already played for the greatest team in the Premiership and a move to any other would be a step down.''

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.