NEWCASTLE may have the daunting task of facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon but winger James Milner is hoping the step up in class will ensure United raise their game.

The Magpies have struggled in their last four Premier League contests against opposition at the wrong end of the table. And a clash against Avram Grantfs side is hardly a fixture United supporters will relish, with the Blues unbeaten in 72 league games at home.

But while a Newcastle victory looks unlikely for Sam Allardycefs side, Chelsea may not be the impregnable force they have been over the last four years at Stamford Bridge.

Martin OfNeillfs Aston Villa pushed the Blues all the way in a 4-4 draw on Boxing Day and the Londoners will be without injured pair John Terry and Didier Drogba, along with Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho and Frank Lampard.

And on a further positive note, Milner believes United can draw comfort from their best performance of the season against titlechasing Arsenal.

The 21-year-old winger said: gWe performed well against Arsenal but it doesnft mean anything for us if wefre not performing against Wigan and Derby and getting wins on the board.

gThatfs why we need to get some consistency. Those are the games we need to be winning.

gAgainst the Arsenals and Chelseas youfll do well to get a point. We did against Arsenal but we should have beaten them when we played them at home.

gHopefully, Chelsea will bring the best out of us.h But Milner understands the teamfs performance and work rate will have to rise dramatically from past displays this term if they are to take anything from the match against the former two-time Premier League champions.

Several United players have performed way below their best this season and the former Leeds United starlet accepts that some of his colleagues may not have risen to the challenge of playing for a club of Newcastlefs size in the current campaign.

Despite having only two days to recover from their Boxing Day contest against Wigan at the JJB Stadium and plan for the trip to London, Milner admits todayfs game could not come soon enough for him.

gOn the fitness side, itfs about recovering as quickly as you can,h said Milner. gBut on the other side, after a result like Wigan, itfs a bit of a bonus having a game so soon because you get it out of your mind, get on with the next game and put what happened on Boxing Day out of your mind.

gTherefs always pressure when youfre playing for a massive club like Newcastle. Therefs massive expectation and that goes with playing for the club.

gWefre all top-quality players whofve played at big clubs before, itfs about meeting expectations and going out there and putting in our best performances every week.h Newcastle United have decided against following up their interest in South Korean striker Cho Jae-Jin.

He has been one of the stars of the Japanese League, scoring 34 goals in 79 appearances for Shimizu S-Pulse after initially signing for Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Talks took place with the 26- year-old, but Allardyce is not expected to make an offer for the player.