Roeder lavished praise on Van Gaal

"There's a discussion he's arguably the best coach in the world," said Magpies boss Roeder after Newcastle's 4-1 aggregate win over Zulte-Waregem.

"He has had periods in his career where he has been to the very top.

"He has vast experience, so it is something that I am really looking forward to."

Interview: Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder

But Waregem coach Francky Dury warned Roeder that AZ would provide a stiffer test than his own side were capable of giving Newcastle over two legs.

"I was disappointed that we did not handle their formation and tactics. Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder

Dury said: "Beware AZ because they are a Dutch team who play technically much better football than us."

If Roeder was enthusiastic about the prospect of the AZ tie, he was less enamoured about Newcastle's display against Waregem.

"The aim was to qualify for the last 16, so it is job done in that respect," said Roeder, after Obafemi Martins' second-half goal gave Newcastle a 1-0 victory.

606 DEBATE: Your views Newcastle's Uefa Cup victory

"They came and did a good job defensively and made it difficult for us.

"I was disappointed that we did not handle their formation and tactics.

"There were a lot of senior players out there and it was quite obvious from where I was standing that all the room was in the wide areas, where we would have outnumbered them two to one.

"It was patchy. There were parts I was quite happy with and parts I was not quite so happy with."