Newcastle v Inter Milan Ever since Bobby Robson's return in September 1999, coming back has been the Newcastle United theme. Last season's fourth-place finish in the Premiership was built on unlikely comebacks at places like Elland Road and when they entered Europe this season they continued their habit.
Losing the first three games in the first group phase of the Champions League meant Newcastle had to create a little piece of Champions League history in qualifying by winning the next three.
Tonight against Internazionale at St James' Park, Newcastle at least begin on level points with the Italians, but Robson's team will again feel like they are having to come back. Saturday's defeat at Manchester United had an impact beyond the five goals rattled past Shay Given. Newcastle's performance shook the credibility Robson craves and so once again the team have to respond to a bad result.
"We need a dramatic reaction from the players after Saturday," said Robson. He was confident yesterday that one will come against Inter and if the realism and determination of Kieron Dyer is anything to go by, then Robson's faith is not misplaced.
"We did let ourselves down (on Saturday)," said Dyer. "Before the game I said that I honestly believed that we could go there and pick up three points. In a way maybe that defeat will be a blessing in disguise. Maybe we were getting carried away after Feyenoord. Sometimes you need a setback just to refocus."
Craig Bellamy completed 90 minutes at Old Trafford without a reaction from his knee and despite Robson saying last week he was able to play only one game a week, the Welshman seems a certain starter.
Hugo Viana, not even on the bench in Manchester, should also return on the left and Nolberto Solano would probably have come back on the right prior to his "not happy" outburst on Monday.
Inter won their group against Ajax, Lyon and Rosenborg but they lost 1-0 to Milan on Saturday.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Given; Hughes, Dabizas, O'Brien, Bernard; Solano, Dyer, Speed, Viana; Bellamy, Shearer.
INTER MILAN ( 4-4-2): Toldo; Zanetti, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Coco; Okan, Di Biagio, Almeyda, Emre; Crespo, Vieri.
