Mags can dance to Tonali's tune and stunt growth of emerging rivals

BAKU MIGHT FEEL LIKE A BACKWATER, BUT QARABAG HAVE PULLED OFF FINE RESULTS

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THERE are those who think Qarabag will be something of a shoo-in for a revitalised Newcastle United on their travels - a free pass into the last 16 knockout stage of the Champions League.

Nice thought, we should be so lucky, and true they are not the European powerhouse of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the battalion of Premier League heavyweights, but may I sound a word of warning: Qarabag pack a punch up top and that makes them a genuine danger on their own midden.

They have scored at least two goals in each of their four home Champions League matches, winning 3-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt and 2-0 over Copenhagen, as well as drawing 2-2 with Chelsea and losing 4-2 to Ajax.

United away from home can leak goals, as Eddie Howe is only too aware, despite back-to-back wins, so I suspect his warning will be in six foot high letters. Baku is a long exhausting way to go to get sloppy!

Of course, unlike the FA Cup at Aston Villa, United have the safety net of a second leg at St James' Park and therefore I fully expect the Mags to win through, whatever the result in a far away land as long as we keep it respectable.

The Mags have endured a tough time but seem to have discovered the path out of their maze.