Football: Bellamy revels in Champions League challenge.

Byline: DAMIAN SPELLMAN

WALES striker Craig Bellamy has vowed Newcastle United wil be back in the Champions League next season after bowing out of this season's competion with a 2-0 home defeat by Barcelona on Wednesday night.

United ace Craig Bellamy, to whomUnited's best chances fell, said:``We've got to make sure we're back in the Champions League next season and keep building for the future because I think we've got a good chance of going on and doing something special in the next couple of years.We're all developing and as long as we're back in the Champions League,it gives us the chance to buy more players,become bigger as a club and really hit the big time.

``I'm a much better player for the game against Inter Milan last week.

``Without being disrespectful to Charlton Athetic last Saturday, this is a different level. In Milan,I was playing against defenders like Fabio Cannavaro and Ivan Cordoba.''

England midfielder Kieron Dyer is also targeting a swift return,but insisted that there was still much to play for in the Premiership as United attempt to reel in Arsenal, whoseChampions League involvement also came to an end on Wednesday. ``We can hold our heads up high,''he said. ``We've improved as a team and we've progressed from last season, which was the plan.It's bad (for Newcastle's titleambitions)Arsenal going out as it's fewer games for them,but ours are all winnable games.

``We just need Arsenal to slip up and if they do a couple of times, then the league is in our own hands as we've got Manchester United to come here.''

The Magpies host Blackburn tomorrow hoping to cement their place in the top three and close the gap on Manchester United and the Gunners.

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Newcastle star Craig Bellamy