United need to beat Bert van Marwijk’s men, who won 1-0 on Tyneside on September 24 thanks to Sebastian Pardo’s superb strike, to stand any chance of going through. But even then they will be relying on Juventus to take something from Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine.

With Marcello Lippi’s side already safely into the second phase, his team selection is expected to reflect that fact, but although the Magpies are fearing the worst in that respect they know that if they can avoid defeat in Holland, they will be at least be rewarded with a UEFA Cup berth to extend their European adventure.

Even that seemed a remote possibility just a few weeks ago after successive defeats by Kiev, Feyenoord and Juve.

“The good thing is we have given ourselves a chance, but the bad thing is we are still going into our game relying on someone else to do us a favour,” admitted Shearer.

“The first three games might come back to haunt us. I hope they don’t and we’ll keep our fingers crossed, but I’m not too hopeful of Juventus doing anything in Kiev.

“Still, we can’t worry about what happens out there. We have our own game to win and there would be no point in Juventus winning and us not getting the result we need.

“We just have to do our job and let things take care of themselves in Kiev. I’m sure we’ll get to know how the game is going, but we can only worry about what we can do.”

Newcastle were taught a harsh lesson on that night at St James’ Park when they created more than enough chances to win the game comfortably but found former Sunderland goalkeeper Edwin Zoetebier in inspired form.

“I thought that was our best performance and yet we got nothing from the game,” said Shearer. “That’s football for you.

“But I would certainly settle for a repeat of that performance because I don’t think we could have the same possession and chances again and not score.

“I think luck evens itself out over the course of the competition. We probably deserved something from the first Feyenoord game and our away game with Juventus.

“But then again, Juventus will say they should have taken a point at St James’ Park when they hit the bar late on.”

It is that 1-0 win over the Italian champions and the subsequent 2-1 defeat of Kiev which have given Newcastle their chance, but no-one within the camp is in any danger of underestimating the delicacy of the situation.

“It’s no good focusing on the other game because if we don’t win, we’re out anyway,” said midfielder Gary Speed. “All we can do is win our game.

“It’s our own fault because we lost our first three games. All we can do is give ourselves a fighting chance.”

Bobby Robson will make a late decision on striker Craig Bellamy, who seems likely to play some part after missing the last six games through injury.

The Welshman is available following his recovery from a knee problem and serving a three-match European ban, and could be included for a tie which is effectively a Cup final.

“Everybody knows the significance of it, the importance of it, and we have to be at our best,” Robson said.

“We’re looking to win or not lose, and if we do either, we’d stay in Europe.

“The players realise that. They know the importance of that to the club, and we’ve just got to be ready for it.”

Feyenoord, who beat FC Zwolle 2-0 at the weekend, will be without former Nottingham Forest and Celtic star Pierre van Hooijdonk, who has a fractured bone in his ankle, while skipper Paul Bosvelt is struggling with a calf strain and Japanese midfielder Shinji Ono is suspended.