NICKY Butt may have experienced just about every emotion there is to endure during a long and distinguished playing career, but even he confessed he was not prepared for this term's sinew-draining ordeal.

The 33-year-old Newcastle United midfielder has experienced both the peaks and the troughs during a glittering 15-year career for both club and country.

He has lifted the Champions League trophy, scooped six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and starred in a World Cup tournament, as well as scrapping for his life at the other end of the spectrum in a struggling side trying to maintain its top-flight status.

Striving to be part of an all-conquering Manchester United or England side on a domestic, European or international assault may bring its own pressures, yet Butt insists it is nothing compared with the wide-ranging emotions suffered this term.

And the former Old Trafford starlet has taken into account his torrid time when he was part of the Birmingham City side relegated two years ago.

Butt was sent to St Andrews on a season-long loan after being found surplus to requirements on Tyneside by Graeme Souness.

Sir Bobby Robson's £2.5m acquisition from Old Trafford had hoped to use the move to resurrect a career that had been hampered by a mystery back injury and a loss of form.

Unfortunately, Butt failed to raise his stock in the Midlands and ultimately found himself at a career crossroads.

His reputation was arguably sullied even further by the experience and the disillusioned midfielder walked out on manager Steve Bruce midway through his spell.

The Mancunian's frustrations had reached boiling point when his former United teammate had selected his son, Alex Bruce, a centre half, in the squad ahead of him. He was later fined two weeks wages - believed to be £80,000 - for his actions.

The Birmingham experience undoubtedly scarred his otherwise unblemished copybook as a professional, but he believes it does not represent the most difficult spell of his career. This season's struggle against relegation tops the lot.

"I don't think I've ever been through a tougher period in my career," revealed the former England international, who won 39 caps for his country.

"All due respect to Birmingham, when I was on loan there, they didn't have the players we have.

"You're looking for players to give you that spark and there weren't many there. At Newcastle there are some top quality players and we were scratching our heads trying to work out why we are where we are."

If this conundrum has perplexed a player of Butt's great repute then even the most fervent and knowledgeable supporter can be forgiven for not understanding the club's current plight.

A team blessed with internationals who have both European and Premier League experience should not be flirting with relegation.

Yet Butt insists that even the most decorated players in world football cannot escape that well known footballing disease - a lack of confidence.

"It (lack of confidence) was a massive factor in our bad run," said Butt.

"When you come to St James' as an opposition player, it can be very tough. I've been here and thought that myself.

"But the flip side of that is that it can also be a tough place to play when things aren't going well for you as a Newcastle player. The fans are demanding, and rightly so.

"I don't know if the new lads have struggled to grasp what a big stage it is, you'd have to ask them, but it's a difficult place to play football."

This season has been turbulent even by Newcastle's spectacularly unsettling standards.

A new owner and a new manager heralded the pre-season campaign. But since then the manager, Sam Allardyce, has been dismissed, while the club's new chief, Mike Ashley, has installed a new boss in Kevin Keegan.

Butt would rather not point the finger of blame at the managerial changes or boardroom reshuffles but he did concede United's season might have suffered because of the consequential upheaval.

"The disruption in terms of a new manager and new owners shouldn't have an effect but it does," acknowledged the midfielder.

"The new manager has come in, so let's hope there is a bit of stability now.

"He wants to build up the academy and everything. There should be more players coming through and breaking into the first team.

"We haven't had that, at least not while I've been here.

"It's been difficult changing managers. I've been here four years and I've had five different managers, which is unbelievable really."

Butt hopes Keegan's recent appointment will finally end the managerial merry-go-round at St James' Park and give the club some much-needed stability.

He said: "When I first come here I said it was a massive club to come to and it still is. It just has not happened for the club for some reason.

"But for one thing or another, whether it is a change of manager or the change of personnel, with players coming in and out, we have never had a settled period.

"I do believe with Kevin now manager, given time, he'll get it right."

As for the immediate future, Newcastle have seven games to guarantee their Premier League status for next season.

Tomorrow the Magpies face a Tottenham side who struggled earlier in the campaign but bounced back to win the Carling Cup last month.

Spurs may have nothing else to play for this term but the midfielder says it would be foolish to underestimate a side packed with so much quality when Newcastle desperately need the points.

"It has changed for us in the last couple of games, but we can't be over-confident," said Butt, who scored the winner in a 3-2 victory when the two sides last met at White Hart Lane.

"We can't think one win (against Fulham last week) and we're okay now,"

"We've got a lot of pride to play for and we have seven games left to make sure we get out of trouble and start climbing the table.

"This club should not be where it is and we are embarrassed by it, to tell you the truth.

"We've won the first game under the new manager and hopefully we will kick on from there.

"We can't get carried away though with one win. It could quickly all come crashing down again if we think we're safe.

"I believe in myself and I believe in my teammates, we just need to get a few good results.

"Now we have to build on last week's win and get a bit of respectability in terms of our league position.

"Once we've done that, then we can look ahead to what we might be able to achieve next season."

2:03am Saturday 29th March 2008

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