By Matthew Jones
October 1 2002

Magpies full-back Andy Griffin has described his first-team revival at St James' Park as "incredible". The 23-year-old defender is preparing to line up against Juventus. Magpies full-back Andy Griffin has described his first-team revival at St James' Park as "incredible".

The 23-year-old defender is preparing to line up against Juventus in Turin on Tuesday just a few months after being on the brink of quitting Newcastle.

Griffin has been a revelation since breaking back into the first-team line-up against Dynamo Kiev two weeks ago and insists he will not give up the shirt without a fight.

"It is incredible when I think about the fact I'm preparing myself to play against Juventus in the Champions League," he said. "Last season I was preparing to play teams like Darlington and Hartlepool. With all due respect to those clubs, there isn't really a comparison - this is one of the biggest games of my career. In the summer I did not know if I was going to have a future at United," added Griffin. "I needed to be playing first-team football and, if that meant leaving the club, then that is what I would have done. But the manager was totally fair with me. We had a little chat before the season and he assured me I was an important part of his squad. In the end, patience came off and I would like to think I'm getting back to something like my best form."