Dinamo Kiev's decision to play their strongest team against Newcastle today will almost certainly guarantee Faustino Asprilla's appearance for the Magpies. And will give the Colombian the chance to equal Wyn Davies' record as United's highest scorer in Europe. Asprilla has scored nine goals in only 10 appearances for the club in European competition. It took the big Welshman 24 games to reach double figures. The final Champions' League Group C encounter on Tyneside will not be the meaningless game many feared, played out by under-strength sides with one having qualified and the other having no chance of a quarter-final place.

Kiev coach Valery Lobanovsky seems determined to see his Ukraine champions complete their six games unbeaten, while Kenny Dalglish and his team can't contemplate a third defeat on the trot. So a great deal of responsibility will rest on Asprilla's shoulders. And, while Dalglish accepted he'd made an error in recalling the South American World Cup star too early by playing him in the home defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, it seems certain he'll have to rely on him against Kiev.

One man who is excited by the Colombian's return is new Newcastle chairman Freddie Shepherd. "He is one of the greatest footballer's in the world . . . Tino gets me going every time he has the ball at his feet."