NEWCASTLE will attempt to make Rovers pay for their Worthington Cup heartache by strengthening their claims on a top six Premiership finish.

Bobby Robson's side returned from Chelsea on Wednesday night with their London misery extended to 29 games without a win after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's injury-time strike denied them an extra-time chance to end their capital punishment.

Newcastle have, almost without fail under Robson, bounced back from a defeat by winning the next game, and they will need to do just that if they are to maintain their current position and fend off the advance sparked by Manchester United's 5-0 demolition of Derby in midweek.

Midfielder Gary Speed is confident that they can do just that to set themselves up for their best finish since Kenny Dalglish took them into the 1997 Champions League.

"We know what is required to get into Europe," he said. "You need good home form, which we have, and you have to win games away without sloppiness. If we continue like we are, we will get into Europe."

Boss Robson will be keeping his fingers crossed that French midfielder Laurent Robert, who missed out at Chelsea with a hip injury, is back in harness but hamstring victims Clarence Acuna and Christian Bassedas are struggling.

Striker Craig Bellamy will be missing as he serves a one-match suspension, but Alan Shearer will play after having his own three-match ban lifted when referee Andy D'Urso rescinded the red card he showed him in the 1-1 draw at Charlton a fortnight ago.