Metalist Kharkiv host Newcastle United for return leg

Metalist Kharkiv boss Myron Markevich has warned his players not to write off Newcastle's Europa League hopes.

The two sides meet at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv tomorrow evening with the Ukrainian outfit having emerged from last week's trip to Tyneside with a creditable 0-0 draw to give them a slight advantage in the quest for a place in the last 16.

However, they were made to work hard for it - striker Papiss Cisse had two goals harshly disallowed for offside - and Markevich is expecting another tough game in the second leg.

Asked if Newcastle, who currently sit in 16th place in the Barclays Premier League, had passed up their best chance of progressing, he said: "No, I don't."

Metalist ran out at St James' Park having not played a competitive match since December 6, when they lost 1-0 to Rapid Vienna in Austria in their final Group K fixture.

But Markevich is confident there is more to come from his team.

He said: "This is simple: You all know that Metalist can play better and we hope we will."

Any Metalist victory would send them through, while a score draw would be good enough for Alan Pardew's men to progress.

In the circumstances, an away goal could prove crucial, but Markevich insisted he was not attempting to second-guess what approach Pardew would take.

The game will be played in front of a large and passionate crowd - tickets sales had exceeded 38,000 by this afternoon and is fast-approaching a 40,000 sell-out - and Markevich is promising Newcastle and their fans a lively welcome.