SIR Bobby Robson has flagged up PSV Eindhoven's returning stars as the biggest threat to Newcastle's progress into the last four of the UEFA Cup.

The Magpies travel to PSV's Philips Stadion for the first leg of their quarter-final clash tomorrow, with the return leg on Tyneside coming just six days later.

The Dutch side have been struggling in their domestic league of late, with Saturday's 4-0 win at RKS Waalwijk still leaving them eight points behind league leaders Ajax.

But, with three key players returning to full training this week, Guus Hiddink's side will be as strong as they have been all year when Newcastle roll into town.

Danish winger Dennis Rommedahl, a long-term United transfer target, enjoyed his first action for three months when making a half-hour substitute appearance at the weekend.

Rommedahl picked up an ankle injury in December that forced him out of PSV's winter training camp in Turkey, but the 26-year-old will be fit to line up against the Magpies.

Star striker Arjen Robben is available again after returning to training yesterday, while teenage frontman Ibrahim Afellay is also back in contention.

Robben, who will move to Chelsea this summer after completing a £13.5m deal last month, is part of Dutch football's most potent strikeforce alongside Serb Mateja Kezman and homegrown hero Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

"We've had them watched and, while they've had a few key players injured recently, they look like being back to face us," said Robson.

"If they don't make it for the away leg I'm sure they'll be fit to play against us at our place.

"PSV aren't doing as well as they would like in the league as they're some way behind Ajax. But, like us, they've had a good run to get this far in the competition and they'll want to beat us.

"Knowing Dutch football as I do, I have to say that we are expecting a tough game on Thursday."

Thursday night's away leg will represent something of an old boys reunion for Robson after he spent two separate spells in charge of PSV in the 1990s.

The Newcastle boss guided the Eindhoven club to successive championships after taking over the reins in 1990 and then returned for a further one-year stint after spells in Portugal and Spain.

"It was a very special time in my life," said Robson. "I enjoyed my time there immensely."

Robson might have enjoyed his time at the Philips Stadion but, for Magpies midfielder Gary Speed, the ground evokes miserable memories.

Speed was part of the Leeds United side that lost 3-0 to PSV in 1995's UEFA Cup, but things got even worse a year later when Wales were thumped 7-1 by a Dennis Bergkamp-inspired Holland in the same stadium.

"It's a great stadium to play in," said Speed. "I've played there with Leeds and Wales - although the less said about the Wales game the better.

"We got beat 7-1 and Neville Southall was man of the match having made 13 world-class saves. It should have been 20.

"PSV have a reputation for being a good team so it will be tough for us. But hopefully we can bring something back to St James' Park."

United should be boosted by the return of Jermaine Jenas who has recovered from a thigh strain.

l Newcastle confirmed that the away game with Southampton has been re-arranged for Wednesday, May 12, kick-off 7.45pm.