Newcastle are at home to AZ Alkmaar in their first tie of the last 16 round of the UEFA cup on Thursday.

After a disappointing result on Saturday against Middlesbrough, Newcastle will need to improve their game to beat Alkmaar. While the defense looked very solid the strikers had an off day and on another day Martins would have converted at least one of his chances.

Emre has missed the last eleven games and is likely to return to the side following the race allegations made against him.

Unless Newcastle can make strides in the UEFA cup and put a winning run together in the league - this season could turn out to a be a real disappointment. The fixture list will help the Magpies as they have only two more league games before April 7^th when most of our injured players – including Michael Owen hopefully- will be available for a last push. It is even possible that Shola Ameobi could return for the last few games.

Glenn Roeder on Wednesday was realistic about the Alkmaar game:

“Without a shadow of doubt Alkmaar will the toughest side we have played so far. They are a good footballing side and I am glad I went across to Holland and watched them against Utrecht last week. They are what I would call a very Dutch side, and are typical of the way a club coached by Louis van Gaal play. We know we will have to play to our strengths and play an aggressive game against them. We also need our fans to be aggressive.

We all saw what it was like at Anfield when Liverpool knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League. I have to say our supporters have been magnificent in Europe this season - and they will be so important to us against AZ Alkmaar. Louis van Gaal has been here with Barcelona and he will know what an atmosphere our supporters can create. He will remember only too well that night when United beat his Barcelona team in the Champions League back in 1997 at St James’ Park. Our backroom staff, like physiotherapist Derek Wright, still talk about that night and if we can get some of that tomorrow it would be a big help.â€?

It will be important to keep a clean sheet but even more important that we get some goals.

Louis van Gaal is the Alkmaar coach and it will be a battle of wits between Roeder and van Gaal. Alkmaar are very powerful in attack having already scored 93 goals this season so it will be a real test for the Magpies.

Alkmaar are currently second in the Dutch Eredivisie behind PSV.

This will be a game in which we will see how far Newcastle have progressed under Roeder this season and certainly their biggest test in Europe this year.