Newcastle ‘years ahead’ of schedule, says Robson

SIR BOBBY ROBSON will attempt to guide his side into the Champions League tonight, by his own admission, years ahead of schedule.

Newcastle go into the second leg of their qualifier against NK Zeljeznicar holding a 1-0 lead from their trip to Sarajevo a fortnight ago and knowing it would be a major upset if they were not to make the advantage count.

It is all a far cry from the day Robson arrived at St James’s Park in September 1999, facing a major fight to maintain the club’s Premiership status.