UEFA Cup: Graeme Souness has warned Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt to learn his European lesson as he prepares for a scrap with Sochaux.
The 29-year-old, who won a Champions League medal with Manchester United in 1999, fell for a sucker punch in his first UEFA Cup match for his new club when he was sent off within minutes of his introduction as a substitute in the qualifying clash with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin.
That cost him his place in the return leg and the victories over Panionios and Dinamo Tbilisi which have left Newcastle top of Group D with six points and needing one more to reach the last 32.
Butt, an experienced European campaigner, knew instantly he had made a big mistake and after recovering from the hamstring injury which kept him out of Saturday's 2-0 Premiership victory at Crystal Palace he is desperate to make amends.
"I think there will be a certain amount of 'I've let the lads down', but he's back with us now. I'm sure he'll have learnt from his mistake against the Israeli team," said Souness
Butt's presence will be important with Souness expecting a no-nonsense approach from the Frenchmen, who defeated Monaco on Friday away 3-1 to extend their unbeaten league run to eight games.
Monaco's 1-0 Champions League win over Liverpool on Tuesday night illustrates just what a tough proposition Guy Lacombe's side will represent and Souness admits a draw will suit him. "Sochaux will be a very difficult team to play against. They play with a British style, an English style, where they press the ball all over the pitch. They have, as I understand it, an aggressive coach - that's the way he's been described to me - he wants the players to be spiky and challenging on the pitch. If we can come back here without losing I'll be delighted."
Souness may rest some of his key players with Jermaine Jenas, captain in the absence of Alan Shearer at the weekend, likely to hand the armband to Robbie Elliott, and Shola Ameobi, Darren Ambrose and James Milner coming into contention. Shearer, Stephen Carr and Andy O'Brien are still injured and Ronny Johnsen is ineligible, but Souness is confident he has the strength in depth to get a positive result.
Meanwhile, striker Craig Bellamy headed for France determined to secure Champions League football next season, if only to earn a few Sundays off by eradicating the need for Thursday-night fixtures.
"I hate Sunday games," he said. "You wake up on a Saturday morning and it's game-time, you're geared up for 3 p.m. kick-offs. But instead, we're sitting in a hotel somewhere watching the other results come in . . . We've got to sort this out by getting into the Champions League and getting our games back to a Tuesday or Wednesday, then every Saturday."
Sochaux v Newcastle Stade Auguste Bonal, 7.45 (ITV2)
