CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW
Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer is a major doubt for the Magpies ahead of tonight's mouth-watering return with Juventus. The 23-year-old is still suffering from the back injury that ruled him out of England's 2-2 draw with Macedonia and will have a late fitness test.
Shola Ameobi and Lomana Lua Lua are standing by to replace Dyer as Alan Shearer's striking partner, with Craig Bellamy serving the second game of his three-match ban for head butting Dynamo Kiev defender Tiberiu Ghioane.
After three consecutive Group E defeats, Sir Bobby Robson realises this is a must-win game for the Tynesiders if they are to continue their Champions League adventure. "This is a do or die situation. If we lose, we can say good-bye to the next round. So it's all or nothing - muck or nettles," he said. The former England manager added "We have played three Champions League games and not looked inferior in any of them, but have come away with nothing. We have to put that right and if we don't we are out."
Saturday's 5-2 defeat at Blackburn was hardly the ideal preparation for a match of this importance and Robson is becoming increasingly frustrated with his side's recent sloppy defending. "Personal mistakes have been made which cannot be allowed. There have been elementary errors that have cost us dearly. We are concerned about it. It is something we need to improve on."
Rumours from Tyneside suggest that Republic of Ireland World Cup goalkeeper is set to be the fall guy and dropped in favour of 27-year-old Geordie Steve Harper, who has played just three Worthington Cup ties in nearly two years. Titus Bramble comes in for Nikos Dabizas who is suspended after picking up his third yellow card in Turin three weeks ago.
Juventus are without Paolo Montero, who is recovering from knee surgery, David Trezeguet and Marcelo Salas. Alessandro Del Piero, who scored both the goals against the Toon in Turin, has paid tribute to Alan Shearer, who passed 300 goals in club football last Saturday. "I have the greatest respect for Shearer and for his record at club and international level," he said.
Newcastle will no doubt be roared on by full house at St James Park and, despite their indifferent form of late, the Magpies go into this game with history on their side. Juventus have not won any of their last 17 Champions League games away from home, and have kept only one clean sheet on their travels in 13 games. As the Guinness advert says….BELIEVE!
