Newcastle face Metz at a difficult time

AS disappearing Brazilians are currently all the rage in England's north east it came as little surprise to learn yesterday that Metz's man of that nationality, Isaias, the midfielder who chinned David Batty so elegantly in the first leg 1-1 draw a fortnight ago, is rated as doubtful for tonight's return at St James' Park (BBC 1, 8.0).

But, it is not a thigh strain or even bruised knuckles that may keep Isaias out; according to his manager, Joel Muller, Isaias is "nervous". Maybe it was only after he saw whom he had tangled with that Isaias realised the centre circle of uncertainty that he had wandered into, and the last two weeks have obviously been spent in something of a sweat.

All of which, if you listen to that little Yorkshire pussy cat, Batty, has been unnecessary. "I am not a player who bears a grudge and I don't bear a grudge against Isaias," the combative midfielder said. "I've never gone out to hurt anybody on the pitch."

Mark Hughes, for one, will certainly see the irony in that statement and it is precisely because of the elbow at Stamford Bridge, nine days ago, that the Metz game is Batty's last before Christmas. With Newcastle in a run of five matches without a win it could not have come at a worse time and suddenly they face the prospect of their season imploding.

Seven days ago this was not the case but the defeats at Middlesbrough, that knocked them out of the League Cup, and at home to Arsenal, which removed them from the top of the Premiership, have clearly added an extra dimension to the Metz match.

Kevin Keegan is aware of the consequences of a third consecutive defeat but, having berated his players for their performance against Arsenal, the Newcastle manager looks likely to stick with Saturday's starting 11. "We need a massive step up tomorrow night," he said. "I was pretty low after that game because the one thing I did not have was the thing I've filled the team with invention and flair. We haven't played that well generally.

One man, however, who could scarcely be said to be out of sorts is Alan Shearer, although his most pressing concern is to prevent himself acquiring a reputation as a diver and a whinger. After the Tony Adams sending off last Saturday Martin Keown said: "We need protecting from Shearer, not the other way round."