OLIVIER Bernard has backed Newcastle's misfiring strikers to shoot down Manchester United as his side look to get their stuttering campaign back on track tomorrow.

Wednesday night's Carling Cup defeat to Chelsea means the Magpies have now lost three domestic games in a row and, perhaps more worryingly, the club's much-vaunted strikeforce are suddenly struggling to convert their chances into goals.

Craig Bellamy's late consolation against Fulham was a poor return for 26 shots at the goal, while neither Alan Shearer nor Patrick Kluivert looked like breaching Chelsea's rearguard on Wednesday despite plentiful possession.

While most observers are all too aware of United's defensive limitations, few expected them to be struggling at the other end of the field with the likes of Laurent Robert and Jermaine Jenas available to supplement their attacking triumvirate.

But, with the bottom half of the table looming if things do not go to plan this weekend, Bernard is confident his team-mates are encountering nothing more than a temporary blip.

And, rather than pointing the finger at the club's strikers, the French full-back insists everyone must take their share of the blame for Newcastle's recent lack of goals.

"Even though we've had two setbacks, we'll be going into the game against Manchester United in a positive mood," said Bernard, who will be free to talk to other clubs in January if Newcastle cannot persuade him to sign a new deal in the next six weeks.

"We played well in both of those games but, against Chelsea, we just didn't score a goal. That's our problem at the minute - we're not scoring enough goals - but as soon as we get our goalscoring touch back, we'll start winning again.

"It's not just about the strikers. It's the whole team - we've all got a responsibility for creating chances and putting them away.

"If the front players are not scoring, it's probably because they're not getting enough of the ball.

"They're playing well enough, they've just been unfortunate in the last couple of games. But it's up to all of us to deliver some quality balls into the middle."

Ironically, tomorrow's opponents are encountering similar problems, with last weekend's goalless draw against Manchester City the third time Sir Alex Ferguson's side had drawn a blank in the last four league games.

With Alan Smith suspended because of his dismissal in the derby, Ferguson will be relieved to have Ruud van Nistelrooy available again after he completed the three-match ban imposed following his horror tackle on Ashley Cole three weeks ago.

The Dutch international served notice of his intent with a four-goal salvo against Champions League opponents Sparta Prague ten days ago and, with Wayne Rooney and former Newcastle forward Louis Saha also available, Newcastle's backline will face another stern examination tomorrow.

"They always look dangerous," admitted Bernard. "Van Nistelrooy will be back, which is a bit of a blow to us, but whoever they play up front, you know they're going to have good forwards.

"Funnily enough, they seem to be having the same problems as we're having at the minute because they haven't been scoring enough goals.

"It will be a really good game - it always seems to be when we play against Manchester United - but we're at home and we have to show our fans that we can score and win games against anyone."

Newcastle will have to cut off the supply line to Van Nistelrooy if they are going to succeed, and Bernard's battle with Cristiano Ronaldo could prove crucial in negating the Dutchman's threat.

Tomorrow's game will be the first time the pair have locked horns, as Ronaldo missed January's goalless draw at Old Trafford while Bernard was an unused substitute when the Portuguese playmaker came off the bench in his side's 2-1 win on Tyneside last August.

Bernard is aware of Ronaldo's techinique and trickery, but remains confident he has the defensive tools to keep him quiet. "It will be a good test for me," he said. "He's a good player, so I might have to be a little bit more careful with what I do in terms of going forward.

"But I play the way that my opponent plays, so I'm able to adapt my game slightly depending on what they're going to do.

"He's an out and out winger so I'll probably have to be a bit less attacking, and I'll have to match him with his technique and pace. But I think I can do that okay."

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