JONAS GUTIERREZ fears he will be unable to return to his homeland if he fails to help Argentina qualify for the World Cup finals this month.

But the fit-again winger insists Newcastle’s return to the Premier League would mean as much as an appearance in South Africa next summer.

Gutierrez and team-mate Fabricio Coloccini will travel to Argentina on Saturday night ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay that will determine whether Diego Maradona’s side can scramble into the final South American qualifying spot.

Prior to that, though, he will make an eagerly-awaited return from a hamstring injury in Newcastle’s back-toback home games with QPR and Bristol City.

The Magpies go into the first of those encounters with a 100 per cent home record, and Gutierrez insists a return to the top-flight is every bit as important as anything he achieves on the international stage.

“They are both so big for me,” said the 27-year-old, who has been sidelined since August’s Carling Cup win over Huddersfield. “I have to say they are both so important and therefore they are at the same level because I want them both so badly.

“To get back into the Premier League is the most important thing throughout the season, but to play in the national team at a World Cup has been my dream throughout my life.

“How can I say one is more important? It is very important that I achieve both. Next summer, I want to be looking forward to the World Cup and Newcastle games against Manchester United and Liverpool again. That would be perfect.”

Argentian lie fifth in the table – a position that would only be good enough to earn them a play-off against the fourth-placed side from the Concacaf section, most probably Costa Rica or Honduras, but possibly Mexico.

They host struggling Peru in Buenos Aires a week on Saturday, before travelling to fierce local rivals Uruguay, the side currently one point below them in the rankings.

“If Argentina do not qualify for the World Cup, I would have to take my bags and move to another country because we could not play again at home,” said Gutierrez. “It is impossible that Argentina are not at the World Cup.

“The next two games are like World Cup finals in their own right and we have to win them.”

The effects of that relegation will be evident again this evening as the Magpies host QPR while the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea are hogging the limelight in the Champions League.

It is only three years since Newcastle were in European competition themselves, but while the likes of Gutierrez would have expected to be playing at a much higher level this season, Chris Hughton has been impressed at the way in which his international players have buckled down.

“I think there are a lot of players here who feel a real responsibility to attempt to put things right,” said Newcastle’s interim boss.

“I have seen absolutely no signs from any of them that this is a place they don’t want to be.”

While Gutierrez is expected to start tonight, his compatriot Coloccini has joined a growing injury list that also includes Shola Ameobi, Joey Barton and Ryan Taylor.

Coloccini sustained a groin injury at Portman Road and is expected to miss Newcastle’s next two matches, while Taylor could return on Saturday having injured his calf in the same game.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Khizanishvili, S Taylor, Enrique; Gutierrez, Smith, Nolan, Butt; Ranger, Carroll.