Midfielder relishing next phase

By Matthew Jones
August 29 2002

Kieron Dyer is relishing the prospect of mixing it with Europe's finest after Newcastle eased into the Champions League qualifying stage.

Kieron Dyer is relishing the prospect of mixing it with Europe's finest after Newcastle eased into the Champions League qualifying stage.

The midfielder opened the scoring against Zeljeznicar - just as he had in the first leg in Sarajevo - as United won 4-0 at St James's Park to claim victory in the tie by an aggregate margin of 5-0.

The England international said: "We did a professional job and it feels great. It is the biggest club competition in the world and we are going to be playing against the best players and the best teams like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

"For players like Aaron Hughes and Gary Speed, Craig Bellamy, who find it hard to get into the world tournaments with their countries, it is going to be magnificent. It is the only chance they are going to get to play against these best players on such a great stage."