Souness warns of Heerenveen danger

Newcastle United FC manager Graeme Souness has warned his side to take nothing for granted against SC Heerenveen on Thursday, despite going into the home leg of their Round of 32 UEFA Cup tie with a 2-1 advantage.

'Game on'
Second-half goals from Alan Shearer and Lee Bowyer set up the victory at the Abe Lenstra, but Souness was at pains to point out that there is still a long way to go in the tie. "If we think the game is over and we have done the hard part then we are fools," he said. "An early goal from them would make it game on and we have to make sure that doesn't happen."

'Better mood'
Newcastle will be looking to make it three cup wins in a row after following up last Thursday's success in Holland by beating Chelsea FC 1-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. "The mood is better and there is a buzz about the place," Souness admitted. "That's what winning games does for you."

Bowyer suspended
Souness is without defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, who is ineligible for the UEFA Cup, as he strives to keep his side's positive run going, as well as defender Robbie Elliott (knee) and goalkeeper Steven Harper, who is still recovering from chicken pox. Bowyer is suspended after being sent off late in the first leg so Laurent Robert or Kieron Dyer could come in.

'Play own game'
Heerenveen must win at Saint James' Park to progress, and Dutch international midfield player Ugur Yildirim insists his side are up to the task. "We just have to play our own game," he said. "We will do what we are best at, and that is attacking. If we play like a real team, we can beat them."

Huntelaar fit
Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Heerenveen's leading scorer, got his side's goal in the first leg and is expected to be fit for Thursday despite a slight groin strain. Midfield player Arek Radomski should also start after missing the first leg with the flu.

Full squad
Heerenveen, who followed defeat by Newcastle by losing to De Graafschap by the same scoreline at the weekend, travelled to Tyneside with a full squad to choose from. New signings Lasse Nilsson and André Hanssen also made the trip despite being ineligible to play in the competition.