Pardew: 'Conquer Metalist - And We Could Conquer Europe'

By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Alan Pardew believes his side could go all the way and win the Europa League - if they can navigate Thursday night's tough tie at Metalist Kharkiv.

But the Newcastle manager knows his side will have to cope with the Ukrainian outfit's passionate, and at times intimidating, supporters as well as the quality of Myron Markevich's side at the Metalist Stadium in the round of 32 second leg tie.

The night before the game, a large and vocal group of home fans chanted and banged drums inside the stadium shortly before the Magpies players trained on the pitch and that was merely a taster of what they can expect once the clash kicks off.

That atmosphere could well come into play and Pardew admitted: "This is perhaps where we lack a little bit of experience in Europe.

"It's our first season back for a number of years and the atmosphere tomorrow will probably be the first time we really experience a hostile crowd in this competition.

"With all due respect, in the other ties the opposition's crowd hasn't really played a part. I think tomorrow, it might well do and we need to be able to cope with that.

"But we have players - Yohan (Cabaye) in particular - who have played on the international stage and are used to that scenario.

"So I don't envisage a problem in 90 per cent of our group but one or two I'll be watching closely to see that they cope well with it."

But Pardew - who will send another strong side out on Thursday knowing that a score draw would be enough to reach the round of 16 - insists there's no reason why United can't keep on winning should they progress against Metalist.

"If I looked at my best team, I would put my best team up against any team in this competition and feel confident," he said.

"I've not really had that opportunity but we're a lot stronger on Thursday and therefore if we get through this tie I think we have as good a chance as anybody else."