ENGLAND UNDER-21 boss David Platt hopes his worst nightmare does not return to haunt him tomorrow night.

Last May, Newcastle United's Hugo Viana tormented Platt's side in an embarrassing 3-1 victory for Portugal in a crucial European Championship clash.

And now Viana is preparing to come face to face with the England side again after being demoted from the Portuguese senior squad.

Platt witnessed the European Young Footballer of the Year come off the bench to provide Craig Bellamy with Newcastle's last goal in a 5-1 win over Blackburn on Saturday.

And the England Under-21 chief admitted he had hoped not to cross paths again when his players meet Portugal's young guns in a European Championship qualifier in Rio Maior tomorrow evening.

"I thought as soon as Bobby (Robson) put him on: 'I'm not watching him again, I'm sick of the sight of him'," said Platt.

"And when I got the Portugal squad through, to be honest, I had planned on him being in the seniors. I was very surprised to see his name and not particularly delighted."

Platt also believes Newcastle chief Sir Bobby Robson got a bargain when he paid £8.5m to Sporting Lisbon for the skilful midfielder's services.

"Hugo is an exceptional player," he said. "A lot of people who did not have the benefit of seeing the player in the Championships last year went 'how much and who?' When Bobby signed him.

"I can remember speaking to Charlie Woods (Newcastle chief scout) and saying 'you have got a good player there'.

"Ignore the £8.5m because he is one hell of a signing. And without a shadow of a doubt he is someone we will have to keep an eye on."

Viana and Newcastle teammates Shola Ameobi and Titus Bramble are expected to line up on opposite sides in the Municipal Stadium tomorrow.

And Ameobi revealed the Portuguese boy wonder has been reminding the English players at St. James' Park about the stroll in the park he had in the Under-21 championships last summer.

The Newcastle striker is hoping England can shut him up in the only way they now tomorrow - by winning.

Ameobi said: "They are an excellent team and they have players like Hugo, who was excellent against us last year in Switzerland.

"He's been talking about how he ran us all over last year - I've had to put up with that for the last few weeks.

"But I'll just have to shut him up by doing the same to Portugal, if I'm playing."

Meanwhile, Platt is confident Magpies defender Bramble is paying back the £5m transfer fee Robson paid Ipswich Town for the player in the summer.

But the England chief insists there is still plenty of room for improvement in the former Tractor Boy's game.

"When he went to Newcastle he had a big price over his head so he took time to bed in," said Platt. "I think he has played a major part in Newcastle's success in the Champions League.

"He has matured a great deal since the start of the season. He's come on leaps and bounds.

"If a player costs £4m or £5m then you are a good player anyway and if you can improve on that then that's good.

"He'll have to continue to improve, otherwise he will stand still. If he wants to improve he will."

After Platt's side return from Portugal they then face Turkey at St James' Park on Tuesday night.

* UEFA's executive committee have awarded next season's Champions League final to the Schalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and the UEFA Cup final to the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Newcastle and Sunderland were in the running for the UEFA Cup final. But because last season's Champions League final was in Glasgow and this year's at Old Trafford, their chances were always going to be slim.