Alan Pardew asks Newcastle players for bottle against Bordeaux

Newcastle need victory in France

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew (GETTY IMAGES)

Sammy Ameobi has revealed Newcastle manager Alan Pardew called his players in on Sunday to stress the importance of tonight's Europa League game in Bordeaux.

Newcastle must win tonight in their final Group D game to top the group, thus ensuring they would avoid a club falling out of the Champions League when the competition starts again in February.

"We've now got a massive opportunity (to win something)," said Ameobi. "With the squad that we've got, and the players to come back, we've got a huge opportunity to progress. We can put it away until February and a lot of players will be back by then, the strength of the squad will be bolstered massively and we have to look it as a chance.

"Of course the match against Bordeaux is an important game. The manager had us in on Sunday and said that he wants us to come first. We know there are some good teams coming down from the Champions League and we want to play teams that have finished second in their (Europa League) groups.

"We (Newcastle's younger players) have to be as good as a Yohan Cabaye or a Hatem Ben Arfa or a Demba Ba to stay in this team and now we have to take the responsibility on like they have. We can't look to them always. In myself I feel I'm past the stage of being the kid with no expectations they send on to run at defences but now I have to prove that week in, week out. I want to be a player who makes a difference."

Newcastle's flight out from the North-East yesterday was delayed because of snow.

Kick-off 6pm TV ESPN.

Referee M Masiah (Isr)

Odds Bordeaux 4-6 Draw 11-4 Newcastle Utd 4-1