Butt must learn from Euro mistake

GRAEME SOUNESS has warned Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt to learn his European lesson as he prepares for a scrap with Sochaux.

The 29-year-old, who won a Champions League medal with Manchester United in 1999, fell for a sucker punch in his first UEFA Cup match for his new club when he was sent off within minutes of his introduction as a substitute in the qualifying clash with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin.

That cost him his place in the return leg and the victories over Panionios and Dinamo Tbilisi which have left the Magpies top of Group D with six points and needing one more to reach the last 32.

Butt, an experienced European campaigner, knew instantly he had made a big mistake and after recovering from the hamstring injury which kept him out of Saturday’s 2-0 Premiership victory at Crystal Palace he is desperate to make amends

Butt’s presence will be important with Souness expecting a no-nonsense approach from the Frenchmen, who travelled to Monaco on Friday night and returned with a 3-1 victory to extend their unbeaten league run to eight games.

Monaco’s 1-0 Champions League win over Liverpool illustrates just what a tough proposition Guy Lacombe’s side will represent at the Stade Auguste Bonal, and Souness admits a draw will suit him.

The Newcastle boss may, however, rest some of his key players with Jermaine Jenas, captain in the absence of Alan Shearer at the weekend, likely to hand the armband to Robbie Elliott, and Shola Ameobi, Darren Ambrose and James Milner coming into contention.

Shearer, Stephen Carr and Andy O’Brien remain on the injury list and Ronny Johnsen is ineligible, but Souness is confident he has the strength in depth to get a positive result.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough face conceding their UEFA Cup group match against Villarreal if they walk off the pitch in reaction to racist chanting.

Boro striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has warned he could walk out in protest if he is taunted during the tie against the Spanish side.

Under UEFA guidelines, walking off in protest will result in an automatic 3-0 defeat for Steve McClaren’s side.

However, should the referee stop the game because of racist chanting then UEFA could decide on an appropriate punishment.

Roma forfeited a game 3-0 and were ordered to play two games behind closed doors after crowd violence during their Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev. Referee Anders Frisk was hit by a missile thrown from the crowd and abandoned the game at half-time.

Boro boss Steve McClaren is likely to name an unchanged line-up following Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Liverpool, even though Michael Reiziger is back in the squad after a three-month lay-off with a shoulder injury.