Sir Les looking forward to season opener as two of

NEWCASTLE United legend Les Ferdinand is looking forward to the Premier League kick-off as the Magpies meet Tottenham Hotspur today.

Ferdinand spent two seasons with United before leaving for Spurs in the summer of 1997 and is happy to see his two former teams facing off after the Magpies’ promotion back to the top flight.

Speaking to the Spurs’ website, Ferdinand praised the passion and commitment of United fans.

“When I was there, it was a 36,000-capacity stadium, always sold out, every game. I would meet fans after games and say ‘did you enjoy that?’ and they would say ‘yes, we loved it, but we weren’t inside the stadium, we were out here listening to the noise’.

“They couldn’t get in! Football is everything in Newcastle, the fans are so passionate. St James’ Park is like a cathedral that everyone flocks to on a Saturday. I was fortunate, I had two seasons at St James’ Park and in those two seasons we finished second twice in the Premier League. So in my time, I only really knew good times up there.”

In that time, Ferdinand netted 50 times in 84 appearances and struck up a deadly partnership with Alan Shearer – the pair scoring 41 goals between them in the 1996-97 campaign as United qualified for the Champions League and finished runners-up in the top flight.

Ferdinand came to Tyneside thanks to Kevin Keegan, a manager who brought the Toon back from the depths and united a city with his passion for the beautiful game. Many have compared current manager Rafa Benitez to Keegan.

For Ferdinand, he feels the Spaniard will be key this season.

“Rafa is the key. He wants to play on the front foot and always fields an attacking team. He wants to go forward. As I said, they are well drilled, well organised and they all know their roles in the team. There isn’t a single player in that 11 or 18 who will go out there not knowing what Rafa exactly requires from him.

“They were everyone’s favourites to go straight back up after relegation, made good signings – what I would call Premier League signings in the Championship, they were able to attract the right personnel – and they were a well-organised, well-drilled side under Rafa Benitez.”

And while Ferdinand was part of a United team battling for the title and European football, the England international believes aims of survival under Benitez are realistic.

“In today’s football, for any club promoted from the Championship into