DUTCH master Patrick Kluivert followed up his admission that he would seriously consider a move to Newcastle by handing Titus Bramble a harsh lesson in last night's prestige friendly at St. James' Park.

England Under-21 centre-back Bramble, whose £5m summer switch from Ipswich was delayed while he proved his recovery from a heel operation, has looked far from comfortable since pulling on a black and white shirt.

And on his home debut, the 21-year-old endured a torrid time against the class of Kluivert, who showed all his clinical cunning when he opened the scoring in the 28th minute.

Fellow Holland star Philip Cocu floated the ball forward from just inside his own half, Kluivert's touch nicked it away from Nikos Dabizas, and he then nudged the nave Bramble aside before stabbing home.

Six minutes later, Argentinian Javier Saviola collected a little dink from Spanish World Cup star Gaizka Mendieta and was left with the simple task of firing past keeper Shay Given at his near post.

Bramble was also found wanting with the third goal four minutes after half-time. Kluivert again had a hand, laying the ball off to Mendieta whose right-wing centre was headed in off the underside of the bar by Luis Enrique after the Barcelona skipper had escaped Bramble.

The new boy's misery was almost compounded in the 58th minute when he conceded a penalty, bringing down Luis Enrique. But Given rose to the occasion, turning Kluivert's spot-kick over the bar.

The quality and simplicity of Barca's finishing was the difference between the sides and it was a far cry from United's fabled 3-2 victory here over the Catalan kings in the Champions' League five years ago.

But Sir Bobby Robson remained resolutely upbeat and refused to point the finger at Bramble.

"Apart from a couple of errors, Titus defended well and used the ball well,'' said Robson.

"He made a mistake when he lost Luis Enrique for the third goal and he kicked the fella for the penalty - but I guess he had no choice.''

NK Zeljeznicar, who completed an aggregate 2-0 victory over Lillestrom SK last night, now lie in wait for United in Sarajevo next Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions' League qualifier.

But Robson maintained: "I'm not worried about the Champions' League. We're not afraid of it. We've lost to a crack side tonight and it won't affect our confidence."'

Barca returned to Tyneside to help former Nou Camp boss Robson ready his charges for the renewed Champions' League challenge, and Tino Asprilla was back in town to remind the Toon Army of arguably their finest hour.

The Colombian striker, who hit a stupendous hat-trick to stun Barca all those years ago, was guest of honour and received a hero's welcome when he was presented to the crowd before kick-off.

As he strolled to the centre circle to milk the applause, he must have cast his mind back to the night he wrote his name in Geordie folklore.

Given and Luis Enrique were the only survivors in the starting line-ups from that great game.

For Newcastle, this represented the start of something of a new era, with Sir Bobby also handing a home bow to £8.5m Portuguese capture Hugo Viana.

The manager had demanded a searching examination in preparation for the Champions' League.

And it was clear there would be a competitive edge to last night's game as soon as United skipper Alan Shearer caught Carlos Puyol on the back of the head in a penalty-area duel. The prostrate Puyol played no further part in proceedings.

Newcastle created a flurry of early chances, Shearer lifting a header over and Lomana LuaLua dragging a shot wide before Dabizas' bullet header, on the end of Viana's left-wing corner, forced an instinctive stop from Victor Valdes. But once Kluivert struck there was no way back.

Goals: Kluivert (28 mins, 0-1): Saviola (34, 0-2); Luis Enrique (49, 0-3). Bookings: Cocu

Attendance: 51,257. Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Given (Harper 64); Hughes, Dabizas (Griffin 78), Bramble, Bernard; Solano, Dyer (Ameobi 78), Speed, Viana; Shearer, LuaLua (Jenas 61). Subs (not used): Elliott, Acuna, Marcelino, Cort, Caldwell.

BARCELONA (3-4-2-1): Valdes; Puyol (Reiziger 8 mins; Gabriel Garcia 46) De Boer, Navarro; Mendieta, Hernandez, Cocu, Motta; Saviola, Luis Enrique (Riquelme 78); Kluivert (Geovanni 62). Subs (not used): Lopez, Rochemback, Daniel Garcia, Enke.

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