Roeder positive on UEFA Cup draw

Posted on 15th December 2006

Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder says he is pleased with the club's UEFA Cup draw. The Magpies have been paired with SV Zulte Waregem in the final thirty–two of the competition. Roeder insists the Belgian side will get nothing but his full respect.

The Magpies will travel to West Flanders for the first leg on February 14/15, with the return match at St. James' Park on Feb 22. SV Zulte Waregem are the current Belgian cup holders, and qualified for the knockout stages after finishing third in their group behind Espanyol and Ajax.

"It's a ground or team I've never been to before, but they will get our full respect and we'll make sure all our reports on them are up to date," said Roeder. "I may not know too much about them right now, but ask me again in a few weeks' time and I'll know everything about them because we will be very thorough in our preparation. From our point of view I'm pleased with the draw, one of the good things being it's only a short flight across to Belgium for us and the players won't be sitting for hours on a plane like they might have been if we'd had to go somewhere else. It also means a short flight back and that's ideal too, especially as you may have a match to prepare for that weekend."

The draw for the last 16 was also made in Nyon on Friday morning, throwing up the possibility of a tie against either Fenerbace – who United have already beaten 1–0 in the group stage this season – or AZ Alkmaar. Roeder added: "It would be madness to start looking at that game – only a fool would look beyond the first game."

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