They will play an as yet unnamed Slovakian side with the winners taking on a team from Turkey in the second round with the successful club in that tie meeting the Magpies in round three.

Victory would hand Graeme Souness’ men a place in the semi-finals and a chance of reaching one of the three finals, for which the prize is a place in the UEFA Cup.

For a side which has reached the second group phase of the Champions League and the latter stages of the UEFA Cup in the last three seasons, that, on paper at least, should be achievable.

However, with the likes of French side Marseille and Borussia Dortmund also potential opponents as the competition comes to a head, it is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Few on Tyneside will need reminding of the club’s experience in 2001 when they eased past Sporting Lokeren and 1860 Munich to set up a final clash with French club Troyes, only to follow up a fortunate 0-0 draw in champagne country with a madcap 4-4 draw at St James’ Park to go out on the away-goals rule.

Ironically, that disappointment gave way to joy as Bobby Robson’s side used their early-season impetus to secure a fourth-place finish in the Barclays Premiership and return to the European big-time by the conventional route.

Vasas met Sunderland in the first round of the 1973-74 European Cup Winners’ Cup after the Black Cats’ famous FA Cup final victory over Leeds, the English club drawing 0-0 in Budapest before winning the return leg 2-0 at Roker Park, although Sporting Lisbon ended their adventure in the next round.

Meanwhile, young Newcastle defender Peter Ramage has revealed that an 11th-hour intervention by chairman Freddy Shepherd persuaded him that his future lies on Tyneside.

The 21-year-old, who made his senior debut at Manchester United last month, looked set to leave Tyneside after rejecting a third contract offer last week.

However, he made a late decision to sign a three-year deal on Friday when Shepherd called a meeting at which he was assured that he has a chance of being involved despite Souness’ expected summer transfer dealings.

“I am over the moon,” he said. “All I have wanted to do is play for Newcastle. At the start of the day, I did not know where I stood in football terms.

“It was never about money. The decision to reject the offer had been purely based on football. My job description is playing professional football and if I am not playing, I am not a footballer. I just want to play football.

“But I spoke to the manager and he assured me I had a part to play in the upcoming season. He made my mind up then. I know it is an old cliché, but it is the only club I want to play for.

“I am Newcastle through and through and to hear that from the manager settled my mind. I have got an extra year, which is even better. The chairman was absolutely brilliant, as he has been all the times I have come across him. He has been fantastic with me.”