Magpies face stern test, says Dyer

KIERON DYER has said Newcastle’s young guns will have to grow up quickly if they are to cope with the might of Inter Milan tonight.

The Magpies launch the second phase of their big European adventure at St James’ Park against Hector Cuper’s Italian aristocrats knowing that they will have to repair the damage of Saturday’s 5-3 mauling at Manchester United if they are to keep their dream alive.

United were blown away at Old Trafford, and while Dyer and the youngsters who will line up alongside him tonight are drinking in every ounce of a whirlwind introduction to the Champions League, he is adamant that they must not be allowed to be carried away by it.

‘‘It’s all about education for young players. Playing against these kind of players is obviously going to make us better players, wiser and more confident,” he said.

‘‘I think there were a few kids in the playground on Saturday against Manchester United, and that’s why we got battered. Tomorrow there’s going to have to be men on the pitch.’’

Newcastle won their place in the last 16 by completing a remarkable turn-around to defeat Juventus, Dynamo Kiev and, on a glorious night in Rotterdam, Feyenoord and avenge successive defeats in their opening three fixtures.

Their reward for those heroics is another six games: against Inter, an emotional return to Barcelona for manager Bobby Robson and Bayer Leverkusen.

However, they know they cannot afford to start as slowly as they did in the first group stage, and Dyer in particular, is determined to make an impact after missing the home clashes with Juventus and Kiev through injury.

‘‘It was evident in Feyenoord that myself, Shay Given and Craig Bellamy played in the first three games where we had no points, and obviously the team did well without us and won the next two,’’ he said.

‘‘We had a massive point to prove because we wanted to be a part of it, and I think in Craig’s performance and in my performance, we raised our game an extra 5%.

‘‘We still haven’t won at home in the Champions League, me and Craig, so hopefully we can raise our game an extra 10% because we want to show the fans that we’re part of this.”

Bellamy’s contribution in Rotterdam after three weeks on the sidelines with a recurrence of his knee injury was immense, scoring the first goal and then clinching victory in the final minute after Bert van Marwijk’s men had fought back to 2-2.

The Welshman, who was not allowed to join up with his country for their Euro 2004 qualifier in Azerbaijan last Wednesday after being told he can only play one game a week, could find himself in the starting line-up once again just four days after a tough 90 minutes at Old Trafford.

‘‘There’s a very good chance that he will play,’’ said Robson.

‘‘He trained yesterday and today without problems and we’ll just have to look at it and see how he is tomorrow, but he’s in my mind.’’

Robson’s side has exceeded expectations just by making the second phase, but although they know they face a major fight to go any further, they have set their sights on doing just that.

‘‘If we play like we did against Juventus, then we’ll have a chance,’’ said Robson. ‘‘I can’t say any team running away with it. It’s going to be a tough encounter.’’

Robson will also have Laurent Robert (fractured cheekbone) and Hugo Viana (knee) available, while opposite number Cuper - who rested this season’s Champions League hotshot Hernan Crespo at the weekend - is without Portugal international Sergio Conceicao and former Arsenal defender Nelson Vivas.