Butt seeks personal Greek hat-trick

NEWCASTLE midfielder Nicky Butt is hoping to complete a hat-trick in Piraeus as he attempts to help Newcastle stake their claim for a place in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

The 30-year-old was a member of the Manchester United squad which claimed Champions League victories away to Olympiakcos in both the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, and is looking for a third with his new club tonight.

Dusan Bajevic's side has since returned to its spiritual home, the 33,500-capacity Karaiskakis Stadium, where they have won 10 of their 11 league games this season as well as defeating Monaco, Liverpool, Deportivo la Coruna and Sochaux in Europe.

However, Butt is confident he can keep his run going and further Newcastle's claims for a first trophy in 36 years, with Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Tottenham sandwiched between the two UEFA Cup ties.

"Our next three matches are huge," he said. "Basically, we know that if we do not win them, we get knocked out. We really do just have to take them one at a time because if you start looking too far ahead, then you get into trouble."

Butt's experiences in Piraeus, to the south-west of Athens, have left him in little doubt as to what he and his team-mates can expect both on the pitch, with Brazilian Rivaldo and company, and off it with Olympiakos' fiercely partisan fans.

"The atmosphere will be hostile, but that should get you up for the game," he added.

Manager Graeme Souness, who knows all about football in this part of the world from his days in Turkey, was under no illusions either as he prepared to put his side's five-game winning run on the line.

"They are a good team," he said. "They are a team who are top of the league and they will feel they should still be in the Champions League they got 10 points in their section of the Champions League and they will feel they should still be in that competition."

Olympiakos have squandered a seven-point lead at the top of the Alpha Ethniki in the last month, but with Rivaldo among their ranks provided he shakes off an ankle problem, they will represent a stern test.

Souness will replace the cup-tied Jean-Alain Boumsong with Andy O'Brien, while Aaron Hughes is expected to deputise once again for the injured Celestine Babayaro.

The Newcastle manager however, will need to make late decisions on whether or not to play Butt and Patrick Kluivert after their recent fitness problems.