Alan Shearer has challenged a Newcastle squad bursting with international experience and youthful exuberance to transform their potential into success.
The former England captain played in Blackburn's Championship-winning side, was signed as the final piece of Kevin Keegan's Entertainers' jigsaw and spent close to a decade leading his country's line.
However, Shearer is more optimistic than ever that the current United squad can emerge as one of the greatest he has known.
"It's certainly a very exciting squad and what I like about it is that it has a bit of everything," admitted the 31-year-old striker in Holland last night. "There's experience, youth and talent so what more do you need? "What we have to do now is prove that we can put those things together when it counts.
"It's OK having the right things in place but the next step is to make things happen and achieve some success. We'll try our best this season and signs are encouraging that we're heading in the right direction."
Shearer has already equalled his most prolific pre-season in a black and white shirt following Monday's first-half hat-trick at De Tubanters and will bid to overhaul Laurent Robert's four-goal tally in Newcastle's final tour match at Beter Bed UDI 19 tonight. "I've done enough on this tour but with the injuries I've had in my career I have learnt that it's better to be careful at this stage of the pre-season," explained the United skipper.
Carl Cort and Titus Bramble face late fitness tests to determine whether they will see their first action of the tour.
Meanwhile, Newcastle's players will keep an eye on developments in Nyon from their Dutch base at Ermelo today, with the club's route to the Champions League due to become clearer.
Newcastle have been seeded along with other big guns Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, UEFA Cup holders Feyenoord, Celtic, Inter Milan and AC Milan for the draw at UEFA's Swiss headquarters.
While the odds are high on being paired with one of the minnows from the second qualifying round they could come up against Sporting Lisbon, Auxerre and Fenerbahce who are easily the three most dangerous teams among the unseeded clubs.
The draw for the final qualifying round will take place at 11am at Uefa's Swiss base but it is likely that United will have to wait until August 7, and the completion of the second qualifying round, before they learn the final identity of the European opponents.
Meanwhile Newcastle were last night again linked with a move for Rivaldo, according to sources in Brazil.
Sir Bobby Robson has reportedly put together a package worth £150,000 to the World Cup star who has been released by Barcelona.
Milan were front-runners along with Athletico Madrid but, Brazilian reports say Newcastle have made a late bid to tempt him to St James's Park.
