However, Shola Ameobi is expected to be fit after shaking off the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games, while skipper Kevin Nolan returns from suspension and Jose Enrique (also hamstring) and Sol Campbell (illness) should be available.

Midfielder Dan Gosling, who is yet to play for the club, is making rapid progress in his fight to return from a long-term knee injury, but Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) are still out.

Provisional squad (from): Krul, Harper, Simpson, Perch, Ferguson, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, S Taylor, Campbell, Kadar, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Smith, Routledge, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Vuckic, Tavernier, Donaldson, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Ranger, Xisco.