Magpies vow to make Champions League return

NEWCASTLE UNITED bowed out of the Champions League vowing to be back next year after launching a major assault on the Premiership title.

Wednesday night’s 2-0 defeat by Group A winners Barcelona at St James’ Park finally brought down the curtain on a thrilling and lucrative 14-game campaign which began in Sarajevo in August.

Bobby Robson’s young side has come on in leaps and bounds since taking its first steps in Europe’s biggest club competition, but the remarkable fightback which secured their passage to the second phase and then the brave battle they staged in an ultimately vain attempt to reach the last eight has give them a taste for more.