PATRICK Kluivert is hoping to make his latest comeback from injury against Sporting Lisbon but, with the clock already ticking on his Newcastle career, the Dutch international has already turned his attentions to Sunday's FA Cup showdown with Manchester United.

Kluivert has been a massive disappointment since his summer move from Barcelona and, while the Magpies have the option of extending his current deal by another two years in the summer, this season looks like being his last in a black and white shirt.

Lifting the UEFA Cup would guarantee him a permanent place in the club's history books and, after finally shaking off a long-standing knee problem, the 28-year-old is in contention for a starting spot at Lisbon's Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Kluivert has already tasted European glory after scoring Ajax's winning goal in the European Cup final as a fresh-faced teenager.

But, after grabbing the winner against both Chelsea and Tottenham to book Newcastle's place in the last four of the FA Cup, the striker is already dreaming of scoring a third golden goal this weekend.

"I can only dream about scoring the winning goal in the semi-final," said Kluivert. "If I do, it will mean more than getting a hat-trick in any other match.

"It will be that special and I don't mind how I score it - even if it comes off the back of my head I will be happy."

Should Kluivert make Sunday's game, he will come face-to-face with Dutch team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Newspaper reports in the Netherlands have suggested the pair, born on the same day, do not get on.

But, while Kluivert admits he is not close to the Manchester United striker, he refutes rumours suggesting they share a long-standing mutual distrust.

"We will have to be at our best to beat Manchester United," he said. "Because they have some quality players.

"One of the best is my Dutch colleague Ruud van Nistelrooy. As a striker, it's easy to see who the top-class forwards are - and Ruud is certainly one of them. His record speaks for itself.

"There's been a lot of talk that Ruud and I don't get on, but it's not true. We don't phone each other, but then you don't phone everyone you play with do you? We still have a lot of admiration for each other's work on the pitch."