Newcastle will give late fitness tests to defender Titus Bramble and striker Shola Ameobi ahead of Sunday’s vital Premiership trip to Aston Villa.
Bramble is a doubt with a thigh problem picked up during the 2-1 UEFA Cup victory over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, while Ameobi suffered a thigh strain on reserve team duty yesterday.
Andy O’Brien may have taken over from Bramble anyway after sitting out in midweek, while Kieron Dyer is ready to resume after shaking off a hamstring problem and Lee Bowyer is available following the completion of his six-match European ban.
Provisional squad: Given, Harper, Hughes, Bernard, Taylor, Elliott, Woodgate, O’Brien, Bramble, Speed, Robert, Dyer, Jenas, Ambrose, Bowyer, Viana, Brittain, Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi, Bridges, Chopra.