Georgia on my mind — Souness

NEWCASTLE manager Graeme Souness will re-live some of his most bitter football memories when he sends his team out against Dinamo Tbilisi in the UEFA Cup tonight.

The 51-year-old Scot was part of the Liverpool team which travelled to Georgia during the 1979-80 season for a European Cup first round game with the great Dinamo outfit of that era while holding a 2-1 lead from the opening leg at Anfield.

As English champions and twice-winners of the trophy, they were confident of another good run in the competition, but after a marathon journey and an uncomfortable stay in the Eastern bloc, during which they were kept awake by fans outside their hotel, they were soundly beaten 3-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

It is a memory which remains as painful as ever for Souness despite the passage of 25 years, and while he knows that his experiences will have no bearing upon events at St James’ Park, there will be an element of revenge.

Newcastle are looking to bounce back after losing their 10-game unbeaten run at Bolton on Sunday in disappointing fashion with Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester United all due at St James’ Park within a 10-day period.

Souness will again make use of his squad as he attempts to rest key players for the tougher tests ahead, and that means that defender Titus Bramble is likely to be given another chance to prove himself.

The £4.5million signing from Ipswich is yet to justify the hefty fee invested in him by former boss Bobby Robson and Souness has challenged him to make the most of his chance and save his club millions on the transfer market when the window re-opens.