LEE Clark last night revealed his long-term ambition is to sit in the Newcastle United hotseat - despite the perils and pitfalls of football management.

The 33-year-old midfielder made an emotional return to his hometown club from Craven Cottage last summer, initially to assist reserve team boss Tommy Craig while he completed his UEFA A coaching badge.

But with several long-term injuries to Graeme Souness' side, Clark found himself thrust into the first team spotlight once again.

His happy return to the starting XI culminated when he grabbed a last-gasp equaliser against North-East rivals Middlesbrough at St James' Park a fortnight ago - his first for the club in nine years.

But while the Wallsend-born midfielder is happy to prolong his playing career, he insists next season will be his last in black and white stripes.

"Who knows, one day, ten or 15 years down the line, I could be coming back here (as manager)," said Clark.

"You have to set yourself a target and that would be the one if I went into that side of the game. However long it takes, that would be the eventual goal.

"They say the next best thing to playing is being the manager, so if that's the direction I'm going to take, hopefully, I can get the experience to manage such a big club. But the long term goal is to eventually come back here as manager one day.

"I never thought I'd come back here, when my contract wasn't renewed by Fulham, at this stage in my career by any stretch of imagination. You're in for a lot of surprises in your career. I try to set myself goals and targets and that's what I'll be doing in next part of my career."

Clark returns to face his former side Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon for the first time since his summer free transfer and admits he has mixed feelings about his departure from the club.

The midfielder had six happy years with the Cottagers but revealed: "I did not find out (I was leaving) until the season ended and that was the only downer in my time there.

"It was a bit disappointing the way it was handled.

"But the people involved, we have spoken since and it's all cleared up now.

"They explained their reasons and said it was financial and I have to believe that. Andy Cole and Edwin van der Sar left at same time. It was something I had to accept."

Clark famously scored the winner for Fulham against the Magpies in Chris Coleman's first match in charge three years ago.

He didn't celebrate on that occasion out of respect for his former club but says he'll have no qualms about doing so today, should the opportunity arrive.

He said: "Whichever team I'm playing for, I'm going all out to win, especially playing for Newcastle. Fulham were in a relegation battle and Newcastle were going for the Champions League.

"If roles are reversed this time, I will be celebrating, although that's not being disrespectful to the Fulham fans who were great with me and my family and could not have treated me any better."

* Newcastle have opened talks with Swiss side FC Thun about acquiring the services of defender Jose Goncalves.

The 20-year-old Portuguese born left-back spent last season on loan at Serie B outfit AC Venezia, but managed only three appearances before making a move back to Thun in the summer.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.