Ex-Newcastle United defender Olivier Bernard has admitted that his former club will find it "tough" when they travel to Ukraine to play Metalist Kharkiv in the Europa League.

The former full-back has revealed that he was racially abused when he played two games in the Ukraine for Newcastle and Rangers in 2003 and 2005, and the 33-year-old has seen no evidence that the issue has improved.

Bernard told The Express: "It was terrible. The abuse from the crowd when I played there for Newcastle and Rangers was something that will always live with me. The players will be in for a tough time there because I have not seen any evidence that things have improved.

"There will have to be a ring of steel around the players, especially the black players, because racism was there when I played in that country.

"It was awful, so bad. It is nothing like here. Every time I touched the ball I was jeered and spat at and that is only because of my colour. It was pathetic and very sad."

Bernard made 102 appearances for Newcastle.