SIR BOBBY ROBSON has warned his trophy-hunting Newcastle United side that they are sitting on a UEFA Cup "timebomb'' when they face PSV Eindhoven at St. James' Park tonight.

United held the Dutch champions to a 1-1 draw six days ago, but manager Robson maintains that Jermaine Jenas' away goal offers precious little comfort in the quarter-final decider.

Robson knows the danger posed by his former club, who took the lead at the Philips Stadion through the prolific Mateja Kezman.

The £8m-rated Serbian striker, linked in Holland with a summer move to Tyneside, fired a hat-trick in PSV's 5-0 weekend romp against Groningen and now has 27 goals this season.

The prize for the winners tonight is a semi-final clash with either Inter Milan, who United faced in last season's Champions League, or Marseille, with the French side holding a 1-0 advantage ahead of the return at the San Siro.

Robson, however, will only entertain thoughts of the last four if PSV are overcome.

The Magpies' boss summed up his anxiety, saying: "The tie is there to be won by both teams. We have an away goal, but that's only relevant if the scores are 0-0.

"There's always the danger that PSV score first, so it's on a slight timebomb and the first goal will be very important. PSV know they have to score.

"It's on a very narrow precipice and one mistake can cost you. If you think too far ahead, you run away with yourself. We're not in the semi-final.

"We have a difficult match, but so do PSV. We had a tougher game than they did at the weekend. It was an almost faultless display against Arsenal here on Sunday, and as a result one of the best teams in Europe didn't score against us.

"But I know PSV and they will have big ambitions, and if it's 0-0 with five minutes to go, I'll be like a cat on a hot-tin roof.

"It's crucially important for both teams. Naturally we know Kezman is a goalscorer, and his record proves that. He scored a great goal against us and showed us his class.

"It wasn't the easiest of chances but he took it well. We know we can't give him too much space. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Ji-Sung Park and Dennis Rommedahl, if he's playing, all come into it as well.

"But we've had a decent 2004, with our home performances and still being in the UEFA Cup. I hope the best is yet to come.''

Midfielder Gary Speed reckons United, who last won a major trophy when they lifted the Fairs Cup in 1969, have learned their lesson after the pain of losing their Champions League qualifier to Partizan Belgrade in August.

"We'll kick ourselves if we don't go through against PSV,'' said Speed. "We know from this season, when we went out to Partizan after we won there and they beat us here, that getting a good result away doesn't mean you're through. Since then, I think we've learned a bit of a lesson.

"Everybody wants to be in the Champions League, but the next best thing is to win the UEFA Cup. It would be a fantastic achievement for the club, but hopefully we'll be back in the Champions League next season.

"Although we feel we've under-achieved as a team this season, we're still in with a shout of having a good season, being in the later stages of the UEFA Cup and also chasing fourth place in the Premiership.

"Hopefully we can have a final push and make the season a success.''

Titus Bramble is clear to play after UEFA took no action over the elbowing incident which left Remco van der Schaaf prostrate and prompted PSV boss Guus Hiddink to demand that the Newcastle centre-back should be banned.

Bramble is still one of five players on two bookings and only a card away from suspension, along with skipper Alan Shearer, Andy O'Brien, Shola Ameobi and Jenas.

But Robson insisted: "It's not a concern. I think our players have shown great discipline.

"It's our tenth game in Europe this season, but only Olivier Bernard has had a suspension for three bookings.

"As far as Alan is concerned, he just has to play his normal game. To tell Alan to hold back wouldn't be right. He leads by example and is totally committed, brave and courageous in all departments.''

Midfielder Kieron Dyer has declared himself fit after missing the first leg and the Arsenal game with a hamstring problem.

Robson said: "He's much better. He's joined in training, done some work on his own, and said he would like to put himself up for selection, so he's in the squad.''

PSV, already without Chelsea-bound winger Arjen Robben through injury, have ruled out centre-back Kevin Hofland (knee) and midfielder Theo Lucius (hamstring). Hofland was suspended last week.

Newcastle (probable): Given; Hughes, Woodgate, Bramble, Bernard; Jenas, Dyer, Speed, Robert; Shearer, Bellamy.

PSV (probable): Wattereus; Bogelund, Colin, Bouma, Lee; Park, van Bommel, van der Schaaf, Vogel; Rommedahl; Kezman.