Tough draw for British clubs

The convoluted nature of the Uefa Cup group stage may be much-derided, but Newcastle United were grateful yesterday that the process by which three clubs progress from five-team groups is so inclusive.

Drawn with Celta Vigo, Fenerbahce, Eintracht Frankfurt and the conquerors of West Ham in the qualifying round, Palermo, Glenn Roeder's side will have to show European form if they are to have two of those opponents behind them when the group closes on November 30th.

Tottenham, Rangers and Blackburn had easier draws, though the European pedigree of many of the clubs in each group is an indication that while still the secondary competition to the Champions League, the Uefa Cup is becoming more intense.

Shay Given, Newcastle's most seasoned European performer, said the draw had a Champions League feel to it and when one thinks of Middlesbrough's group last season - AZ Alkmaar, Dnipro, Litex Lovech and Grasshopper Zurich - Newcastle and Britain's other three contenders can consider themselves unfortunate.

"My initial reaction is that this is as hard as the last time we were in the Champions League," Given said.

"Celta Vigo have Champions League experience and pass the ball around for fun, Palermo are flying in Italy, Fenerbahce have loads of Champions League experience, and Eintracht Frankfurt, like all German teams, will be strong and organised. There is not one game where you think that three points are guaranteed.

"When you compare it to the last time we were in the Uefa Cup, when we had the likes of Sochaux and Panionios, this is much harder. But that is a good thing, it means for players and fans these will be big European nights and that is what we all want. This should be looked at as a chance for us to shine."

Given will be absent when Fenerbahce travel to St James' Park a fortnight tomorrow and is unlikely to feature for the trip to Palermo on November 2nd. But by the time Celta Vigo visit Tyneside on November 23rd Given should have recovered from his injury. The journey to Frankfurt is a week later. Newcastle's thin squad will be tested in full by the itinerary.

Another tough draw for Tottenham sees Dimitar Berbatov facing a quick return to his former club.

The Bulgarian striker was signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for £10.8 million and Martin Jol feels the German club are favourites to top Group B. Spurs have a difficult trip to Besiktas of Turkey before facing Club Bruges at home and a trip to Leverkusen in November. Jol's side finish the group at home to Dinamo Bucharest in December.

Blackburn's chairman John Williams is optimistic after Rovers were drawn against Wisla Krakow of Poland, Feyenoord, Basle from Switzerland and Nancy of France. "We are determined to do well in this competition. We haven't had the best of records in the past but we are keen to put that right," Williams said.

Nacho Novo will be looking for revenge when Rangers renew their acquaintance with Auxerre.

When the teams met two years ago, the French club knocked Rangers out with a 2-0 win at Ibrox.

"It was bad luck that day and we made some mistakes," he said. "It wasn't a good game for us, but it's history now. I think it's going to be a hard group, but I'm positive."

Rangers will also travel to Italy to take on Livorno, as well as welcoming Partizan Belgrade and Maccabi Haifa to Ibrox.