Don't waste this chance.

Byline: By Luke Edwards 

Glenn Roeder has warned returning full-back Olivier Bernard not to waste the opportunity he has been handed by a forgiving Newcastle United.

Bernard has rejoined the Magpies for a second spell just 18 months after he left the club for Southampton under a cloud when he refused to sign a new contract because of a row over wages.

That dispute led to an embarrassing and damaging public dispute with chairman Freddie Shepherd but both men have swallowed their pride after Roeder's plea for defensive reinforcements.

Bernard had been due to sign for Championship side Leeds United after a disappointing spell at Glasgow Rangers but the Frenchman left the Yorkshire club in the lurch as soon as he found out about Newcastle's interest.

To his credit, Bernard has already admitted he made a big mistake in allowing his stubbornness to force him out of St James's Park but Roeder, who tried to sign the 26-year-old when he was manager of West Ham, has challenged him to make the most of a chance that some will feel he did not deserve.

"He's been given an opportunity I don't think he thought would come again," said Roeder who, along with team-mates, has read the riot act to centre-back Titus Bramble over the continued concentration lapses undermining him and the team following his slack defending late in Saturday's game against Fulham.

"I can only give him that opportunity but he now has to meet me more than halfway. I don't think he thought he would ever put on a Newcastle shirt again. So it's a case of, 'Show me what you can do, Olivier'."

Bernard has signed a one-year contract and will hope to be pushing for a place in the first team in a couple of weeks. Having been released by Rangers, which was why he could move outside of the transfer window, the former Lyon prospect is well short of match fitness.

"I tried to sign him at West Ham but he stayed here and had a fantastic time," added Roeder, who had to use Peter Ramage at left-back against the Cottagers because of yet another injury to Celestine Babayaro. "Obviously things haven't gone to plan over the last couple of years at Southampton and Rangers. He has come to us and is nowhere near fit.

"He hasn't had much of a pre-season at Rangers. We now need to push him hard over the next couple of weeks to get him to the level of our players."

Meanwhile, Scott Parker has not been ruled out of Thursday's vital Uefa Cup first round, first leg meeting with Estonia's FC Levadia. United's captain, who was one of the only players to come out of the 2-1 home defeat to Fulham with any credit, was substituted against the Cottagers with a sore knee.

Newcastle would be severely weakened without the Londoner in Estonia and Roeder will give him until the last possible moment to prove his fitness. Roeder said: "Scott will be okay in a few days and he has got a chance of playing in Tallinn. If not, he will be okay for West Ham next Sunday because he will be desperate to play."

Roeder, though, must decide whether it is worth risking Shola Ameobi, who surprisingly played on Saturday but looked unfit as he continues to struggle with a long-standing hip problem.

That could mean a first appearance for Antoine Sibierski, the deadline day arrival from Manchester City, who would add some height to United's attack alongside Obafemi Martins.