By Matthew Jones
July 13 2005

Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi comments on the day of the Intertoto Cup draw. Better to put the comments up late, than not at all ;-) I'm delighted to say that my recovery from hip surgery is going better than anticipated, and I am already able to take part in some light training exercises.

After the operation in May, I was told that I'd miss the start of the season, but if I continue to make progress at my current rate I'll definitely be fit before our first Premiership match of the season against Arsenal on August 14. It's great to have some positive news at last, and because of that I feel like I've got an extra spring in my step at the training ground right now. It's such a bonus to know that I might not miss the entire build-up to the new season after all.

Our pre-season plans became known a little better today following the draw for the Intertoto Cup semi-finals. If we beat the Slovakians ZTS Dubnica we will almost certainly face Deportivo La Coruna, and then if we get through that tie it will be either Lazio or Marseille in the final.

To get into the UEFA Cup it's only right that we should have to work hard for it.

That is a very tough draw for us, but you won't hear any complaints coming from the Newcastle dressing room. We failed to qualify for the UEFA Cup last season, so it would be wrong of us to argue about getting a hard route. This is a last chance saloon for us in Europe this year, so to get into the UEFA Cup it's only right that we should have to work hard for it.

To get into the first round we'll need to beat some quality teams, but at least we'll get there on merit, knowing that we deserved it. If we are worthy of a place in the UEFA Cup, we'll make it there. Even if we go out of the Intertoto Cup, it will be great preparation to play the likes of Deportivo. It will be a solid test for us ahead of the new Premiership season.

It's a fresh start for all of us this season, with several players joining us and a few others leaving the club too. Craig Bellamy was the last player to move on to pastures new, when he signed for Blackburn Rovers last week.

Everybody knows what happened with Craig at St James' Park last season, but I'd like to take this opportunity to wish Craig the best of luck with his new club. He's a quality forward who I am sure will be a big success at Blackburn. If he doesn't do well there I'll be surprised.

With Alan Shearer the only fit striker at the club right now, it looks like Kieron Dyer will step in and do a job up front in the early games. Kieron's done it before and looked good so I don't think it will be a problem.