Emre happy with fan reaction

Newcastle midfielder Emre has paid tribute to the club’s fans after receiving a warm welcome back as he prepares to fight allegations of racism.

The 26-year-old Turkey international will answer a Football Association charge of using racially-aggravated words and/or behaviour at a personal hearing on Monday, March 19.

However, he was cheered onto the pitch when he replaced Damien Duff with 13 minutes of Thursday night’s UEFA Cup clash with AZ Alkmaar remaining after 11 games on the sidelines with a calf injury.

Manager Glenn Roeder has earlier admitted the former Inter Milan star had been deeply affected by the accusations of racism, and Emre was grateful for the Toon Army’s response.

He said: “I am very happy because I have not played for the past two months, and I have to thank everybody – Glenn, the supporters, my team-mates and my family – for their support.

“When I signed for Newcastle, I knew how good the supporters were, and they gave me strength when I came on the pitch because I knew they were behind me.

“It is hard coming back after being out for two months, and now I need to keep working hard on my fitness.

“But I am just very happy to be back playing.”

Emre was charged in the wake of his side’s stormy 3-0 Barclays Premiership defeat at Everton on December 30, and disciplinary chiefs are currently considering further allegations from Watford’s Al Bangura.

However, that all had to be put to one side as the Magpies threatened to take a stranglehold on their last 16 encounter with Louis van Gaal’s Alkmaar side.

Emre watched from the bench as Newcastle raced into a 3-0 lead inside 23 first-half minutes, and although the Dutchmen had fought back to 4-2 by the time he joined the fray, he is confident his side has laid a foundation to complete the job in Holland next week.

He said: “The result is OK because we can score over there as well.

“We caused them a lot of problems in the first half, and I think we can score over there, although we know it will be a difficult game.”