PROMISING midfielder Mehdi Abeid looks likely to make his first start for Newcastle United tonight.

But the 19-year-old, who moved to Tyneside from Lens in the summer, is also facing a dilemma over his international future.

He has dual nationality and has been called by Algeria to see if he will help them to qualify for next year's Olympics.

Having already represented France at youth level, Abeid is in two minds over which country to commit to ahead of the eight-team African qualification tournament which takes place between November 26 to December 10.

"Algeria have to name their team for the Olympic qualifiers and they have called me," he said. "France under-20s also want me to play for them so I don't know, I have to make a choice.

"It is a big ambition to play in the Olympics - that is in my head. But I don't know, I have to make a choice. In the next week I will make my choice - if I decide to play for Algeria I will tell them."

Zinedine Zidane, the former world player of the year, is the most famous Algerian to have pledged his allegiance to France. And, ahead of his Newcastle debut at Nottingham Forest tonight, Abeid is faced with a similar situation to that faced by Zidane in his teenage years.

"It is a difficult choice. I live in France and I want to represent the French too but Algeria is my country, it is where I am from so I really don't know. It's very difficult," he said.

"Zidane was a hero. His choice was France and he was a really, really good footballer. Zidane could have played for Algeria too, but did not manage to take him. He progressed very, very well and became one of the best French players ever."