Many happy returns for Robson

Damian Spellman, Eindhoven

The 71-year-old Newcastle manager is held in high regard at PSV Eindhoven, whom he led to successive league titles after moving to Holland following his spell in charge of the England team, and returned for a year before heading back to Tyneside.

However, while he admits he is delighted as the prospect of visiting the scene of his first successes in management overseas, all that concerns Robson ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Cup quarter-finals is ensuring that he takes a result back to St James’ Park which gives the Magpies a genuine chance of booking a semi-final showdown against either Inter Milan or Marseille.

“My greatest experience in football was Barcelona but PSV, I really enjoyed,” he said.

“It’s a fine club run on fine principles by fine men.”

United warmed up for tonight’s game with a 4-2 Barclaycard Premiership win over Everton at St James’ Park which was not quite as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.

PSV, who dropped into the UEFA Cup after being eliminated from the Champions League despite recording victories over AEK Athens twice and Deportivo la Coruna, had no such trouble, easing their way to a 4-0 victory at Waalwijk to serve warning of their potency.

Splendidly-named striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, a one-time target for Newcastle, scored the 100th goal of his career in that game and, along with Serbian hitman Mateja Kezman, will be a major threat. Chief scout Charlie Woods was impressed when he saw them in action, although he did return from their last European game with some encouraging news.

“Charlie said Auxerre were the better side in the first leg and PSV were fortunate to get a draw,” said Robson. “In the second one, they could have scored early on, but PSV took advantage and won 3-0. There’ll be nothing in it this time either.”

United could do worse than to call upon the memories of their Champions League visit to Feyenoord last season when, needing victory to give themselves a chance of progressing to the second group stage, they ran out 3-2 winners in dramatic style as striker Craig Bellamy returned from injury to claim a precious double.

United will again be without the suspended Lee Bowyer, who will be available in Europe if his side reaches the semis, but Republic of Ireland Andy O’Brien and Michael Bridges have shaken off injuries and are in the squad.

PSV have defender Kevin Hoflund suspended, but pacy Danish winger Dennis Rommedahl returned from injury at the weekend and could have a part to play.

Newcastle squad: Given, Harper, Caig, Hughes, Bernard, Taylor, Elliott, Woodgate, Bramble, O’Brien, Speed, Dyer, Robert, Jenas, Ambrose, Viana, Brittain, Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi, Bridges, Chopra.