Robson wary as Gross returns

By their own admission, Sir Bobby Robson and his team needed weeks to get over the Champions League exit to Partizan Belgrade this season.

Saturday's 3-0 win over Manchester City and their highest Premiership spot this season - fifth - provide the strongest evidence that the Tyneside club have finally laid the memory of that £15million defeat to rest.

But, with tonight's visit of Christian Gross's Basle, Robson has reminded his players of the August penalty shoot-out defeat which ended their Champions League interest. Since then Newcastle have comfortably seen off NAC Breda in the UEFA Cup and have an impressive 3-2 lead from the visit to Basle, who will be without influential captain Murat Yakin but include Liverpool target Marco Streller.

Robson knows Gross returns to England determined to prove a point once more. He said: 'There is a lot of work to do and I know Christian Gross has nothing to lose and they will give it a good old go.

'The whole squad knows how hugely important this is to the club and we know how disappointing the Champions League exit was. I think you will see a blood-curdling UEFA Cup tie. We are aware of the prize and it would be great and exciting to be in this competition still in the New Year. But I know Christian Gross and I know Basle and they will have the same feelings.' The only player Robson will consider resting is centre back Jonathan Woodgate, who came through his first League run-out on Saturday but is unlikely to play three games in a week so quickly after recovering from a double hernia operation.

Lee Bowyer serves the final game of his sixmatch UEFA ban and second-choice keeper Steve Harper, who played against Breda in the last round, has been told he will remain on the bench.