WORLD Cup-bound Kieron Dyer last night celebrated Newcastle's Champions League qualification by issuing a 'come and join us' call to Europe's top stars.

The inspirational midfielder has given his wholehearted backing to manager Bobby Robson's insistence that the Magpies will again be an attractive destination to the world's greatest players.

And Dyer reaffirmed his intention to sign a new deal on Tyneside - playing his part in attracting the best to the club - before he leaves for Japan and South Korea with the England squad.

"We are going in the right direction and I don't think you'll experience a better atmosphere, especially if we make it into actual Champions League," said the 23-year-old.

"If we get the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid coming to St James it's going to be incredible - it will be an unbelievable place to play.

"It was hard to attract the best players to Newcastle, but I don't think that's a problem anymore.

"Now we've got the carrot of the Champions League, it's going to be a massive summer for Newcastle."

The £20m-rated international's words came as Robson revealed he plans to bring two world-class players to Tyneside as he looks to guarantee a place in the Champions league group stages - his number one target being Feyenoord's Aussie star Brett Emerton, rated in the £10m bracket.

Newcastle will play a two-legged qualifying round, first leg August 14, and Dyer himself admits to being excited about the prospect of pitting his wits against Europe's finest at club level, after hearing all about the Magpies' last Champions League campaign.

That was back in the 1997/98 season with victory over Croatia Zagreb guaranteeing a league spot alongside Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Dynamo Kiev.

A glorious opening night victory over Barcelona at St James' Park was the highlight of an ultimately disappointing campaign that saw the Magpies fail to qualify from their group.

Dyer added: "I've heard all about Tino Asprilla's hat-trick at St James' Park (against Barcelona) and I want to experience those sort of days.

"That's why I came here and I believe we have the sort of players throughout the team that will be a match for anyone.

"Players like Laurent Robert and Craig Bellamy will cause problems for any team and if we get more quality players in we will prove ourselves against the very best. "

Dyer also defended himself against criticism he received last summer following much-publicised comments he made about Newcastle needing to buy big-name players.

Many took Dyer's words as a guarded threat that he would not stay at a club that couldn't match his ambitions

"I got a lot of criticism in the summer - but I was just being ambitious," said Dyer.

"The club brought me in and the chairman and manager sat me down and told me they were more ambitious than me, and there would be players coming in.

"They've been as good as their word!"

Dyer has repeatedly praised Robson as the main reason behind his decision to look to sign a new contract at Newcastle - a deal likely to increase his wages to almost £50,000 a week.

After describing him as being like 'a second-father', Dyer has again called for the grand old man of the Premiership to be knighted.

"A lot of credit has to go to Bobby Robson," he said.

"He should be knighted - he's in with a great shout at being manager of the season as well.

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