Newcastle at full Speed

By Julia Court

It has been a busy start to Gary Speed's season. Newcastle United FC's UEFA Champions League qualifier on Wednesday will be the Welsh midfield player's fifth competitive game in just two weeks - a schedule that has included two trips to Belgrade, one for club and one for country.

Contract extension
But the 33-year-old - who has just extended his contract at St James' Park until the end of the 2004/05 season - is showing no signs of flagging as Newcastle prepare for their third qualifying round second-leg tie at home against FK Partizan.

Fantastic squad
"The season has certainly started with a bang, but as a footballer you're either playing or training, and I'd rather be playing," Speed told uefa.com. "And anyway it's not hard to keep motivated when so much is at stake. Newcastle have come such a long way over the past few years and another season of Champions League football is essential if we're going to continue to grow further as a club. [Sir] Bobby Robson has put together a fantastic squad of young players, but we've got to show some return on that investment."

Sensational comeback
Guided by the experience of both Speed and captain Alan Shearer, Newcastle surpassed expectations in last season's Champions League. Despite losing their first three games in the first group stage, the Magpies staged a sensational comeback with wins over Juventus FC and FC Dynamo Kyiv on home turf and a last-minute victory at Feyenoord ensuring they reached the second group stage.

Learning curve
"The Champions League has been a huge learning curve for us," said Speed. "But we learned from our mistakes quickly and made it work for us at the end of the first group phase. Our biggest problem in the beginning was showing teams too much respect, but in the end we just went for it."

Away goal
Unfortunately, getting past the likes of FC Barcelona FC and Internazionale FC in the second phase of the competition proved beyond Sir Bobby's men, but Nolberto Solano's only goal in Belgrade two weeks ago has given the club a strong chance of another crack at the competition this season.

Nice cushion
"We put in a solid performance in Belgrade, which is not the easiest place to go," said Speed. "Defensively we were very strong - Jonathan Woodgate had a superb game, as did our keeper Shay Given, who made a couple of great saves. We've got ourselves a nice cushion, but the job's not done yet."

Long absence
Speed's appearance in the Champions League last season was his first in the competition in eleven years. A product of Leeds United AFC's youth system, he scored for the Yorkshire club in a 1992 victory against VfB Stuttgart, before the Elland Road club were knocked out by Rangers FC in the second round.

Strength in depth
"It was a great feeling to be back playing in the European Cup last season," he said. "Hopefully I'll get another chance to do so before it's time to hang up my boots. We have strength in depth now so we're confident of being able to mount a serious Champions League campaign. My biggest challenge, though, is to help Newcastle win some silverware during the time that I'm here. We've achieved so much at Newcastle over the past few seasons but a club is judged on its trophy cabinet and it's been a long time coming for the fans."

Gary Speed's personal website is at www.icons.com