Newcastle fear Budapest battle

Manchester United are not the only team travelling to one of European football's more volatile outposts this week. While the Premiership champions prepare for tomorrow's Turkish test, Newcastle United face what could be something of a battle in Budapest tonight.

The Magpies take on the Hungarian champions Ferencvaros in a Uefa Cup second- round first-leg match. The home fans have a bad reputation: a near-riot during their team's first-round win over the Greek side Olympiakos earned a pounds 53,000 fine and a severe warning from Uefa, European football's governing body.

"This is a real test for us, a step up from Halmstads," Kevin Keegan, Newcastle's manager, said. "Anybody in the world would tell you that it will be difficult." He has defensive problems to sort out: Steve Howey is out with a calf injury and Philippe Albert is doubtful with a twisted knee. Robbie Elliott stands by to deputise.

At least Faustino Asprilla will be available. The Colombian, who went missing last week after playing for his country in a World Cup qualifier, arrived at Newcastle airport yesterday morning 10 minutes before the rest of the Newcastle party - complete with a visa obtained in Bogota.

Alan Mullery, the 54-year-old former Fulham, Tottenham and England wing- half, is the new director of football at Barnet. Mullery, previously manager of Brighton, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and Queen's Park Rangers, will be assisted at Underhill by the new first-team coach Terry Gibson - another former Spurs player.

The Professional Footballers' Association will announce at the weekend the result of their ballot on possible strike action by Nationwide League players. Ballot forms have to be in by tomorrow and, if the vote is in favour, League clubs will be given seven days' notice. The strike would then come into effect on 1 November, with the Grimsby against Sheffield United game on Sky Sports 3 two days later the first game under threat. The PFA's dispute with the Football League is over the players' share of television payments.

David Pleat will give Sheffield Wednesday's pounds 3m record signing, Benito Carbone, his Premiership debut against Blackburn at Hillsborough on Saturday. "It's a big coup for our club - and a big one by anybody's standards," Pleat said of the 25-year-old from Internazionale. "I'm looking forward to him scaring a few defences."

The Derby County striker Marco Gabbiadini, a pounds 1m signing from Crystal Palace five years ago, has joined Birmingham City on a month's loan. The St Andrew's club have let another forward, Louie Donowa, join Walsall - also on loan for a month.