GARY Speed insists Wanderers should have no reason to fear the unknown when they make their European debut on Thursday.

The Whites have only limited information on Lokomotiv Plovdiv, the Bulgarian side they meet at the Reebok in the home leg of a first round UEFA Cup tie that has an air of mystery about it.

But veteran Speed sees that as an opportunity for the players to show what they are made of.

"They are a bit of an unknown quantity," he said of the team Wanderers must overcome if they are to qualify for the group stages.

"Sometimes it's difficult to be facing a team you know very little about but sometimes it's good. You don't have to concentrate too much on them. If you're right on the day and you are playing to your maximim, you should win the game.

"We'll know what kind of shape they will play but obviously, we won't know too much about the individuals, so it will be down to us."

Chief scout, Jack Chapman, watched Plovdiv come from behind to beat Beroe Stara Zogora 2-1 in an emotion-charged game at the weekend - their first since their president and owner, Georgi Iliev, was shot dead following their UEFA Cup qualifying triumph over OFK Belgrade in August.

Sam Allardyce has studied his report and is hoping Wanderers can gain a big enough advantage in the home leg to make it easy for themselves in the return in Bourgas on September 29. But even the manager admits his team must work things out for themselves once the action starts.

Speed says the players must accept that responsibility and is confident there is enough quality in the side to rise to the occasion - even youngsters like Kevin Nolan and Nicky Hunt, who will be making their European bows.

"I thought we didn't do that enough against Blackburn," he said, looking back on Sunday's scoreless draw. "We needed to be a bit more creative in trying to break Blackburn down and we didn't do that.

"That wasn't down to the manager or the coaching staff, that was down to the players. Sometimes you get out on the pitch and you've got to take the initiative yourself.

"That's something we'll be looking to do on Thursday, but playing in Europe shouldn't be a problem for anybody at the club, even young lads like Kevin and Nicky. They've got European experience at U21 level so they should take it in their stride and enjoy it."

Speed, a veteran of more than 80 internationals for Wales and with extensive European experience in club football, admits he is still excited about the prospect of another UEFA Cup campaign.

"Everyone wants to play in Europe and I'm no different," he said. "European football nights are special and it will be great for the crowd. There will be a buzzy atmosphere and, hopefully, we can go out and enjoy it.

"It's a magnificent achievement for the club to be there but that achievement is history. Now we've got to make sure we do well and qualify again, by right, through the league again.

"Once you get into Europe it's important to stay there. What we'll try and do is have a good time in the UEFA Cup this year and gain valuable experience which, if we can qualify through the league again, will stand us in good stead next time."

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