Newcastle out to settle an old score

SOCCER/Newcastle Utd v Manchester Utd, St James' Park, 12.0: Newcastle United midfielder Kieron Dyer has said he is relishing the chance to erase the memory of last season's 6-2 drubbing by Manchester United when the sides meet today.

That humiliating home defeat in April effectively ended Newcastle's league title challenge and set United firmly on course for their eighth crown in 11 seasons.

"The visit of Manchester United is always a big game, but obviously there is the small matter of last season's defeat preying on our minds," the England international said.

"It goes without saying that we are all fired up for this match and there is no doubt that we owe them. It is the first real home game of the season. I'm confident this is the right time to play Manchester United because no side is at its best at the start of the season."

Champions United began the defence of their crown in style with a 4-0 drubbing of Bolton Wanderers on the opening day, while Newcastle scrambled a 2-2 draw at Leeds United.

United's victory was inspired by an impressive debut performance from new teenage signing Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the 18-year-old will have to be content with a start on the bench.

Newcastle will be without central defender Jonathan Woodgate and striker Craig Bellamy today. Woodgate has had stomach problems since Newcastle came back from Malaysia last month while Bellamy aggravated an old knee injury in Wales' Euro 2004 qualifier with Serbia and Montenegro in Belgrade on Wednesday night.

Nicky Butt (ankle) is a major doubt for Manchester United after he limped out of England's friendly with Croatia. But Ferguson does have options, especially after World Cup winner Kleberson came through a reserve team appearance on the same night. However, Eric Djemba-Djemba is more likely to step in if Butt doesn't make it.

While much of the talk in the run-up to the new campaign has been of free-spending Chelsea, Newcastle and Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given insists anyone who ignores the usual suspects does so at their peril.

"People are probably right to talk about Chelsea," Given said. "They have spent £60 million or whatever and are probably still looking to bring players in. Liverpool as well, they will be trying to get back into the Champions League. That was a big disappointment for Liverpool not to get through last year.

"But Manchester United have bought five players, so it looks as if it is going to be even more difficult than last season. Hopefully, we will give it a go, and maybe the pressure is off us to a certain degree.

"The spotlight is on Chelsea more so than us. I think some of the Arsenal players have mentioned that, that the hype has been taken off them in a sense and brought over to Chelsea."

If Ruud van Nistelrooy manages to get one past Given today, he will equal John Aldridge's record of scoring a goal in 10 successive English top-flight games. The record was set by the former Liverpool and Ireland striker in the old first division in 1987.