Anglo-Turkish ties in UEFA Cup spotlight

LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) Anglo-Turkish rivalry is thrust into the UEFA Cup spotlight tomorrow as the group stage swings into action with 16 ties.

Twice winners Tottenham Hotspur take on Besiktas in a Group B encounter in Istanbul while Newcastle United host Fenerbahce at St James' Park.

Spurs, who have made a lacklustre start to the season, have an injury crisis in central defence and hope captain Ledley King will be fit after having fluid removed from his knee.

Calum Davenport, King's replacement against Aston Villa on Saturday, broke his nose while Michael Dawson was also injured in the 1-1 draw.

''Michael took a couple of knocks and we didn't want to take a risk with him and Calum broke his nose, so that didn't help,'' said Tottenham manager Martin Jol.

Fullback Lee Young-Pyo (ankle) missed the Villa match while midfielders Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque (hernias) remain sidelined and Hossam Ghaly (hamstring) is also doubtful.

Besiktas, seeking their first competitive win over English opposition on home soil, have doubts over forward Ibrahim Akin who twisted his left ankle in training.

Argentine midfielder Matias Delgado's involvement is also uncertain as he has a stomach infection.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has indicated that improving the club's Premier League position - they are 15th, one place below Spurs -- is his priority.

''Fans must understand that,'' Roeder said. ''But it doesn't mean we'll put a team out in the cups where we don't think we'll win.'' Fenerbahce, second in the Turkish championship, have fitness concerns over Serbian striker Mateja Kezman and goalkeeper Rustu Recber, who have been suffering with flu, for the Group H clash.

There have been a number of incidents at games involving Turkish and English teams in recent seasons at club and international level but security fears have been played down.

SEVILLA WORRIES Holders Sevilla suffered a double injury blow this week with midfielder Antonio Puerta and defender Adriano Correia pulling out of the squad for the trip to Czech champions Slovan Liberec in Group C.

Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevanton, injured since joining in the close season, and German defender Andreas Hinkel are also out while winger Jesus Navas is rested.

Liberec have no injury worries but go into the match reeling from a 1-0 loss to Pribram at the weekend which saw them lose top spot to Mlada Boleslav.

''Maybe the loss will enlighten us on how we have to play (against Sevilla),'' said Liberec coach Vitezslav Lavicka.

Atmosphere will be in short supply at the Olympic stadium in Athens with Panathinaikos hosting their Group G clash at home to Israel's Hapoel Tel-Aviv behind closed doors.

The Greek side have been punished by UEFA after crowd disturbances marred the home leg of their first round tie against Metalurg Zaporizhya.

The match marks a return to Athens for Hapoel coach Yitzhak Shum, who led Panathinaikos to a league and cup double in 2004 before leaving at the start of his second season in charge.

Panathinaikos have a new man at the helm with Spaniard Victor Munoz, formerly with Real Zaragoza, appointed last week.

Osasuna's Serbian striker Savo Milosevic has a bruised Achilles and is doubtful for the Group D tie at home to Heerenveen.

Espanyol will be without injured midfielder Francisco Rufete and have a doubt over defender Moises Hurtado (gastroenteritis) for their Group F trip to Sparta Prague.

Reuters PM DB0905