| AlphaZonE |
Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper could make a shock return to Champions League action after Shay Given dislocated a finger in training.
Harper, who played in the first-phase victories over Juventus and Dynamo Kiev, is waiting in the wings as first-choice Given bids to prove his fitness ahead of Tuesday's crucial clash with giants Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Republic of Ireland man Given should make the game but if he fails to recover Harper will step in, and youngster Adam Bartlett - named in the senior squad for the first time with John Karelse due to undergo surgery on a knee problem - would then be asked to provide the back-up on the bench.
Given has travelled with the rest of the squad but now faces an anxious 24 hours.
Gary Speed remains manager Sir Bobby Robson's major doubt after he limped out of the defeat at Middlesbrough with a turned ankle, while Hugo Viana and Nolberto Solano have shaken off a virus and have also gone with the party.
Kieron Dyer, who underwent X-rays on his shin last week, suffered no ill-effects from the game at The Riverside Stadium and Robson said: "Kieron Dyer played without duress.
"He was a little bit sore - but less sore than we thought, so I don't think there's any doubt about him.
"Once he got the x-rays and it was clear his head dramatically improved, and I understand that.
"He was having a lot of pain, a little bit of muscle soreness - well, quite a bit of muscle soreness - and he was obviously worried about it." |
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