Geordie pride is the key to securing Euro place

The Magpies kick off their campaign in Belgium tonight against Sporting Lokeren, knowing they are only six games away from a backdoor route into the UEFA Cup.

Manager Robson takes a depleted 21-man squad to Lokeren's dilapidated Daknam Stadium, which has seen its capacity cut from 12,000 to 3,500 for safety reasons, imploring his players to match the passion in evidence at St James' Park last season during a desperately disappointing term.

United go into their third round, first leg tie without five key players in Alan Shearer, Kieron Dyer, Carl Cort, Robert Lee and Clarence Acuna, who are all sidelined through injury.

But Robson insists "there will be no holds barred'' as his side, who only gained entry to the Intertoto when Spanish side Malaga dropped out, look to book a two-legged semi-final meeting with either Holland's RKC Waalwijk or 1860 Munich.

First they must overcome Lokeren, who they face in the return leg on Tyneside a week tonight, and Robson declared: "It's not a friendly match - it's a competitive game with Europe at stake.

"There will be no holds barred. We are pushing players to be fit after only ten days in training.

"It was not an easy decision whether to take part in the competition because I knew five of our best players were struggling to be involved.

"There was nothing at stake in our last match of the season against Aston Villa apart from pride and reputation, but nearly 52,000 people rolled up.

"The players have to acknowledge that it's a special club with a special public and we owe it to our supporters to try to get into Europe.

"It will be wonderful if we get through.''

With only one big-money buy in the bag so far this summer - £6m Craig Bellamy from Coventry - Robson believes a UEFA spot could also act as a magnet for new signings.

"It would help - it certainly wouldn't work against us,'' said the United boss. "I will be happy if we don't do anything silly in Lokeren and get a narrow result because we will be fitter for the second leg and better still if we get into the next round.

"I've still got a pretty good squad. Lomana LuaLua and Shola Ameobi were brilliant in a practice match and Bellamy looked very sharp and quick.

"He's important to us because we don't have Shearer and Cort for the start of the season.

"We had a list of targets and I'm happy to have got Bellamy. He's eager and will give us a lot of pace up front.

"I'm delighted with him. With Shearer and Cort fit, we'll have a very healthy strike force with plenty of options in case of injuries or suspensions.''

Robson held a full-scale practice match on Thursday, but told his players not to tackle for fear of picking up further injuries.

Centre-back Andy O'Brien is the only worry, with Robson revealing: "He nicked an ankle ligament. It's a minor injury, but we don't want it to become a major one.''

Robson had encouraging news on the fitness of midfielders Dyer and Acuna. Dyer is recovering from surgery for a stress fracture of the shin, while Acuna has been hit by tendinitis.

"Dyer is flying in training and feeling extremely good,'' said Robson. "He will have the final X-ray in two and a half weeks to make sure everything is knitting together well.

"Once it's confirmed he will be given the go-ahead to really get moving. The scan Acuna had shows a marked improvement in the tendon.

"We will take it easy with him next week, then he will go full steam ahead and should be fit to play in about a month.'

l Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed has insisted that the Magpies' Intertoto experience must be a one-off. "We have to aim not to be in the Intertoto next year,'' said Speed.

"We are big enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup by right. We underachieved last season and this is a route we shouldn't be taking.''

Team (from): Given, Harper, Karelse, Barton, Griffin, Elliott, Hughes, Dabizas, O'Brien, Quinn, Bassedas, Gavilan, Lua Lua, McClen, Ameobi, Bellamy, Solano, Speed, S Caldwell, Bernard, Green

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