Solano hunting 'big game' mentality

The Magpies were on the coat-tails of champions Manchester United and runners-up Arsenal for much of the campaign, but slipped away following defeat by The Red Devils and their record against the main sides in The Premiership was poor.

Peruvian wing-wizard Solano feels the talent available to manager Sir Bobby Robson on Tyneside should enable the team to challenge for honours, but they need to come to the party on the big occasions.

"We played well all season but in the crucial times we need to be more like Manchester United and Arsenal - we have to win the crucial games," Solano told officialplayersites.com. "We were very close last season, but we lost to Everton at a crucial time and then we lost to Manchester United, which was also a big game.

"Had we won them we would still have been in there fighting for the title. It comes down to doing as well as you can in the crucial games. That is where we need to be strong.

"Manchester United and Arsenal have the experience in the big situations and everybody at those clubs has played at least five times in the Champions League and the players have played in big World Cup games.

"It is important that we're back in the Champions League and that we stick in there every season so we can build a team that can succeed."

In other news, Robson has confirmed Newcastle`s trip to Malaysia for a pre-season tour is in doubt due to the Sars virus.

The Magpies are due to face Birmingham, Chelsea and the Malaysian national side in July, in preparation for their Champions League qualifier the following month, but Robson has revealed he is looking for other options.

He said: "I'll be the first one who won't be on that plane if there is any doubt in our minds about the virus.

"We are seeking medical opinions and advice from the government and we are thinking about plan B and working on that in case it falls apart."