What do you think are Newcastle's targets for the new season? "Obviously to get off to a better start than we did last season! We've got to be looking at finishing in the top six and getting back into Europe. To do that we have to be a lot more consistent. Despite our dreadful start last season, everybody at the club was disappointed not to qualify for Europe and if we can achieve that we can consider ourselves to have been successful."

In what areas do you think the team needs to improve? "Making a better start to the season! Everybody expected us to come out fighting last year considering the quality of players we have at the club. We didn't and it left us with a mountain to climb. A lot has changed since last year and if we can pick up where we left off earlier in the year, we should be OK. People point the finger at the Newcastle defence when we lose games and I'm a defender so I'm not going to criticise that part of our game, but I have to admit we did give away some silly goals last season and we need to work on that."

What are your personal ambitions for the next nine months? "I've still got my hands full holding down a regular place in the team. I played quite a few games last season - more than I could have dreamt of at the start of the campaign - but I still can't look beyond getting regular first team football at this stage. I think I played 34 games in total and I have to look to improve on that figure. But saying that, if I'm picked for the first game at Manchester United and get a chance to stake a claim, it will be a good start for me."

What was your personal highlight last season? "I'd have to say the FA Cup run. We got to the semi-final at Wembley against Chelsea and finally showed a bit of form. Even though we got beat at least people this time were saying we played well on the big occasion and were maybe a bit unlucky. Beating Manchester United 3-0 at St James' was obviously another highlight."

And the low point of the campaign? "Losing at home to Sunderland was certainly hard to swallow although in some ways it proved a bit of a turning point for us. In fact, if you ask Newcastle fans they'll tell you it was the only time they didn't mind losing to Sunderland because it saw the end of Ruud [Gullit] and brought in Bobby [Robson]. But saying that, it's always disappointing losing a big local derby."

Which of your current squad do you expect to make a name for themselves this season? "Andy Griffin was out for virtually all of last season with a back injury and hasn't really had the chance to show the Newcastle fans how good a player he is. But if he can stay fit and work his way into the first team reckoning, then there's no reason why it can't be his year."

And who are you tipping to win the Premiership? "For me Manchester United are still the team everybody has to beat. Last season I don't think they showed anything like the form they showed the year before but still won the title by a record margin. It just goes to show you can never underestimate them. But if Leeds can maintain their consistency and Liverpool new signings can gel quickly, then I don't think they'll be too far behind either."

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000