FORMER Newcastle favourite Keith Gillespie knows all about the unique magic of the Champions League after taking on the cream of Europe with the Magpies in the Nineties.

And the 27-year-old winger admits he would love to see his old club make a triumphant return to the European stage next season -- but only once Blackburn have secured enough points to guarantee their own Premiership safety.

Gillespie still looks back with fondness on his time on Tyneside where he spent five happy seasons between 1995 and 1999.

But perhaps his one abiding memory of that period in his career was the night he put the mighty Barcelona to the sword in front of a captivated audience at St James's Park.

Newcastle -- at that point Manchester United's principal challengers in the Premiership -- roared into a 3-0 lead thanks to inspired performances from Gillespie and colourful Colombian Faustino Asprilla.

The visitors launched a memorable second half fight-back -- eventually losing 3-2 -- but that display was arguably Gillespie's finest hour and he believes the famous Toon Army deserves to be back on the big stage.

"That was a fantastic night in my career," said Gillespie, who looks set to face his old club tonight.

"Newcastle are a massive club and they should be in the Champions League because they've got the support, they've got the stadium and they've got the players.

"I'd certainly like to see them qualify again because they are playing great football under Bobby Robson but not at the expense of us getting the points to see us safe."

United will ensure their return to Europe's premier competition if they can pick up a point at Ewood tonight.

But Gillespie and his Blackburn team-mates are also hell-bent on securing the victory required to guarantee their own Premiership status.

"Newcastle have nearly clinched that Champions League place and they'll want to make sure of it against us.

"So it's going to be a very difficult game but, having home advantage, we should be looking to win it.

"We don't want to be looking over shoulders in the last few weeks of the season so, if we can beat Newcastle, then we'll be safe.

"It was a huge win for us at Middlesbrough and we are currently on a nice little run so, hopefully, we can keep that going tonight."

If Rovers are to secure the points they need, however, then they will need to stop former Ewood old-boy Alan Shearer in his tracks.

The Newcastle number nine became the first man ever to score 200 Premiership goals when he found the net against Charlton on Saturday.

And that came as a massive relief to Gillespie who feared he might pass the milestone on his old stamping ground.

"Thank God he got his 200th goal against Charlton!"