Holders Sevilla were meanwhile given a boost in their bid to defend last season's UEFA Cup crown.

The on-form Spaniards, who earlier this season beat Champions League winners Barcelona to lift the European Super Cup, were drawn with Dutch side Alkmaar, Czech side Slovan Liberec, Swiss side Grasshopper and Sporting Braga of Portugal.

Tottenham, who this season have been struggling to produce their form of last season, have been drawn in group B with Bayer Leverkusen, Bruges, Besiktas and Dynamo Bucharest.

Newcastle face perhaps a tougher test in their group campaign, which runs from October 19 till December 14 and from which the top three in each group go through to the next round of 32 teams along with eight third-place finishers from the Champions League groups.

The Magpies will face Spanish outfit Celta Vigo, Italian side Palermo, Fenerbahce of Turkey and German side Frankfurt.

Spurs coach Martin Jol said he had been prepared for a tough draw.

"It is a difficult one because we were in the last pot so it was always going to be a hard group," he said.

"Normally the top three teams would be big favourites, but there are no weaker teams in our group and we will not be viewed as such by the other clubs.

"It will be an exciting journey for us. Leverkusen is a club with a great history, (Spurs striker) Dimitar Berbatov played there and they reached the Champions League final in 2002.

"They will probably be favourites to win the group. Besiktas are not the strongest team in Turkey at the moment but what you are guaranteed over there is a passionate crowd."

Another Premiership club involved in the competition is Blackburn, and it is the Rovers who have made an early claim for a place in the last 32.

Blackburn chief executive John Williams said his team had a good chance of qualifying from Group E, which includes Feyenoord, Basel, Wisla Krakow and French side Nancy.

"We have to be optimistic and the group gives us a chance," said Williams.

"This competition is important for us, we have not had a good record and it is time to put that right."

Group A sees old rivals Auxerre and Rangers putting their respective wits against Serbian side Partizan Belgrade, Livorno of Italy and Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa.

The tie should be spiced up by the fact that Auxerre twice beat Rangers in their Champions League fixtures during 1996-97.

Other French clubs involved are northern side Lens, who could be facing a tricky time against Dutch side Heerenveen, Spanish outfit Osasuna, Odense of Denmark and Italian former winners Parma.

Paris St Germain should be feeling confident after being drawn in a group G which also includes Panathinaikos, Rapid Bucharest, Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Republic.

Dutch giants Ajax meanwhile will be favourites to top Group F, which includes Sparta Prague, Spanish outfit Espanyol, Austria Vienna and Belgian side Zulte-Waregem.

UEFA Cup draw
Group A: Auxerre (FRA), Rangers (SCO), Partizan Belgrade (SCG), Livorno (ITA), Maccabi Haifa (ISR)
Group B: Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Bruges (BEL), Besiktas (TUR), Dynamo Bucarest (ROM), Tottenham (ENG)
Groupe C: Sevilla (ESP/holder), Alkmaar (NED), Slovan Liberec (CZE), Grasshoppers (SUI), Sporting Braga (POR)
Group D: Parma (ITA), Lens (FRA), Heerenveen (NED), Osasuna (ESP), Odense (DEN)
Group E: Feyenoord (NED), Basel (SUI), Wisla Krakow (POL), Blackburn Rovers (ENG), Nancy (FRA)
Group F: Ajax (NED), Sparta Prague (CZE), Espanyol (ESP), Austria Vienna (AUT), Zulte-Waregem (BEL)
Group G: Panathinaikos (GRE), Paris St Germain (FRA), Rapid Bucarest (ROM), Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR), Mlada Boleslav (CZE)
Group H: Newcastle (ENG), Celta Vigo (ESP), Palermo (ITA), Fenerbahce (TUR), Frankfurt (GER)