Tight is right for Kluivert

By Tom Rollett

Tight ship
"The most important thing for us in the first leg is to keep a clean sheet," Kluivert told uefa.com. "Middlesbrough conceded three at home to them in the last round, and they found it was too hard to come back from that. If we can stop Sporting from finding the net on Thursday, then we stand a great chance of finishing off the job in Portugal. That is the way you win European ties."

Different situation
Sporting beat Newcastle on their own soil during a pre-season tournament last August, but Kluivert believes that result counted for little. "We lost 1-0, but that result will have no bearing on the match this week," he said. "We will see two totally different teams on Thursday, not necessarily in personnel, but in fitness, attitude and competitiveness."

Liedson threat
Sporting warmed up for this tie with a 4-0 victory away against Boavista FC on Sunday, which kept them in second place in the Portuguese league. Their pacy forward Liedson scored two goals, continuing an exceptional season that has earned him many new admirers. And Kluivert, who is rated doubtful for Sporting's visit with a knee injury, has pinpointed the Brazilian as the one player to watch.

Brazilian panache
He said: "They have some very fast Brazilian player who we will have to pay special attention to. Liedson has been a revelation for them up front this season, and he's a player who we know can hurt us. We will have to stop him from scoring at St James' Park if we are to progress to the next round."

Calamitous fight
Newcastle are still reeling from the extraordinary scenes at St James' Park last weekend when two of their players were sent off for fighting each other. The red cards for Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer overshadowed the fact that talismanic striker Alan Shearer had decided to extend his playing career for one more year - a decision Kluivert welcomes.

'Great value'
He said: "It is great news that Alan Shearer has decided to stay on for one more year at Newcastle. As I've said before, whatever role Alan Shearer plays for Newcastle, whether as a player, a player/coach or as a coach, he will always be of great value to the club.

Enormous appetite
"Alan is the only one who will know when it is time to hang up his boots - no one else can make that decision for him. Only he can judge if he is mentally and physically up to the challenge of another season, and obviously he has decided he is. There is no doubt he has the drive to do it. His appetite to win trophies for Newcastle is still huge."

No change
But, with Kluivert apparently signed as the long-term replacement for Shearer, how will this affect the Dutchman's future? "In my mind it makes no difference at all," he claimed. "With Alan Shearer at the club, Newcastle have more chance of winning trophies this season and next. As I've said before, I want to stay at Newcastle next season, and that still has not changed."

Patrick Kluivert's personal website is at www.icons.com