INJURY-PLAGUED midfielder Emre has assured Newcastle officials he will put club before country by restricting his involvement in Turkey's crucial World Cup qualifier with Albania, writes Scott Wilson.

The former Inter Milan playmaker has not kicked a ball since returning from the last round of international matches with a hamstring problem.

Magpies' manager Graeme Souness has resisted the urge to rush him back into action, leaving him out of United's last four league games in an attempt to gradually nurse him back to health.

But all of that work could be undone in the next seven days, with Emre having been named in the Turkey squad despite his recent injury problems.

Turkish chiefs have agreed not to include Emre in Saturday's friendly with Germany - something Newcastle were keen to achieve - and the 25-year-old will not even be training with his international team-mates before this weekend's game.

He will link up with them when they return to Turkey on Sunday, with boss Fatih Terim keen to include him in next week's must-win game in Tirana.

With Ukraine already qualified from Group Two, Emre is fully aware of the importance of Wednesday night's clash.

But, with Newcastle's trip to Wigan coming just three days later, the midfielder will not be taking any unnecessary risks.

Emre's agent, Ahmet Bulut, said: "When it comes to next week's game against Albania, he is still not sure. He would like to play some part, because it is a big game and Turkey need to win.

"But he has had two doses of treatment on his injury and he is not going to risk anything.

"Perhaps he can be on the bench and come on for some of the second half if his country needs him - maybe that will be the best thing all round.

"Whatever happens, both Emre and myself are 100 per cent confident that he will be fit to play in the Wigan game.

"Missing last weekend's game at Portsmouth was extremely frustrating for him but he will not be suffering the same frustrations at Wigan. He will be out there playing and he is sure of that."

* Former Newcastle striker Faustino Asprilla has announced his retirement from football and is hoping to arrange an all-star match with the Magpies to celebrate his career.

"Even though I am okay and feel that I could keep on playing, I think the time of saying goodbye has arrived," said Asprilla, who spent two eventful years on Tyneside.

"I am organising my tribute match together with the officials and people of Newcastle. We still haven't put a date to the match, but I hope that I can invite some ex-team-mates that I had in Universidad de Chile and other teams."

* Newcastle have promoted David Mills to the post of acting chief scout, following the departure of Ray Clarke to Celtic.

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