Together with Scottish club Hearts, they will take their place at the top table of European football tomorrow as the new European Club Association (ECA) holds its first general assembly in Switzerland.

The organisation has been brought into being to represent club interests with Uefa's blessing in place of the elitist G14 forum.

Under Uefa's ranking system, England, like Spain and Italy, are entitled to send five clubs.

Newcastle have been given the fifth spot behind the big four of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Scotland have three places, and Hearts join Celtic and Rangers.

A total of 103 clubs are included; all of Uefa's 53 associations have a minimum of one representative.

The ECA claims to have already won important concessions for the clubs in the continuing conflict with the demands of international football.

International matches will eventually be switched from Wednesday to Tuesday, allowing players to return to their clubs earlier.

Influence has also been brought to bear on the African Nations Cup, whose staging in January upsets leading clubs.

Last season Newcastle lost Nigeria's Obafemi Martins, Senegal's Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye and Cameroon's Geremi to the tournament for several weeks.

From 2010 it will start two weeks earlier, helping European clubs who have a midwinter break.

Uefa had been concerned for a long time that the G14 would at some stage break away if they did not get their own way in matters such as the format of the Champions' League and payments for international duty.