FERGUSON BACK TO BATTLE SWISS

The Scot has seen four minutes of action in the last two league games and Robson admits he is seriously thinking about partnering him alongside skipper Alan Shearer for the European game.

He said:"He`s worked very hard. Clinically he`s fine, there are no medical problems with him. His fitness level is very high.....and at some stage he has to be thrown in. The only way he`ll get match-fit is to play matches, so we`ve really got to begin with that now."

Robson is likely to make several changes to the side that earned a valuable point in London at the weekend with a 0-0 at Arsenal. Steve Harper should replace John Karelse in goal and Kevin Gallacher is ineligible for this round of the competition although if Newcastle win he will be eligible for the next match.

Kieron Dyer is out following his calf operation and Stephen Glass has been added to the squad.

Franck Dumas, lynchpin of the defence on Saturday, is not considered as Robson does not want to cup-tie him, ahead of a possible move back to France. If the deal goes through then Newcastle are likely to turn their attention to Deportivo la Coruna`s Portuguese defender Helder.

Meanwhile the Newcastle boss has slapped a £10 million price tag on Rob Lee`s head. But with Robson`s revival continuing the 33-year-old underlined his commitment to the club by asking to come off the transfer list at his own request this week.

Robson said:"At this moment, Robert Lee is not available and if we got an offer for him, unless it was £10m, I wouldn`t let him go.``

Robson is worried his side did not finish the job off in Switzerland and he knows the result is not a foregone conclusion.

He said:``It`s not easy by any means. We have a cushion but not a big one. The first goal on the night is very important. If they get it, the tie is vastly open, if we get it, we semi close it. But we`ll have to play all night to get a good result.``