FIT again Emre Belozoglu believes European Champions League football was well within Newcastle United's grasp this season if the club had possessed a bigger squad.

The midfield magician pointed to the strength in depth enjoyed by Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United and blamed the Tynesiders' crippling injury list for casting them adrift.

"It has been a very difficult season, not just for me but for the whole club," said Emre, who admitted feeling frustrated at having made only seven Premier League starts since his £3.8m move from Inter Milan.

"Michael Owen, Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer and me are very important players but when everyone is fit I am sure we will have the potential to be one of the top four or top five teams in England. That is simply because we have so many good players here.

"I am sure that if we had a bigger squad we could reach the Champions League. Newcastle, I feel, deserve it.

"When I came here we were aiming for the Champions League but now we don't have much of a chance.

"Maybe we will get to the UEFA Cup. Next year I want to play in England and also in Europe."

Emre's encouraging substitute appearance at Cheltenham on Saturday was his first since limping out of United's insipid Carling Cup defeat at Wigan in November, with a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

The 25-year-old playmaker initially fell foul of Newcastle's hamstring jinx against Manchester United in only his second Premier League outing. He returned two months later, only to suffer from another muscle injury which saw him miss another eight weeks.

But Emre's 30-minute cameo in last weekend's FA Cup fourth round tie at Whaddon Road - when replacing Nolberto Solano - suggested a promise of better things to come. And after being handed a plum fifth round FA Cup draw at St James' Park against Southampton - the BBC's live televised game on Saturday February 18 (5.40pm) - United fans are hoping his return to fitness could provide the catalyst to a first cup final appearance in seven years.

"People say if we had a stronger bench or two or three more good players we would have a chance of getting to the Champions League or the final of the FA Cup," said the Turkey international. "Our aims are to move up the league but the FA Cup has to be a realistic goal as well."

Emre has a date with UEFA in Zurich next week to answer questions regarding the fracas which ensued after his country's World Cup play-off exit to Switzerland in Istanbul.

Turkey triumphed 4-2 in the second leg but went out of the competition on away goals.

Also at the hearing will be former Aston Villa defender Alpay Ozalan, now with Cologne, Schalke's Hamit Altintop and Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.

It is the second hearing Emre has attended but he protests his innocence.

He said: "I don't think it is a big problem because I didn't kick anybody. For Turkish football it is no good. I don't really know why I have been asked to go to see them but FIFA say I have to go so I have to go."

* Former Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit insists little has changed since he left St James' Park and believes the difficulties caused by Alan Shearer's stature on Tyneside are still hampering the club's progress.

Gullit was appointed manager of the Magpies in August 1998 and the following season saw the club take just one point from their first four league games before Gullit chose to drop Shearer.

''I still think I made the right decision. Look at the way things have developed," he said.

"The coaches since me have tried to do the same thing and they couldn't because he is so beloved there.