Boumsong Under Pressure

The French international is already the only Newcastle United player to have taken part in every minute of this season's games but his form has been under question lately, particularly after the 25-year-old admitted he was at fault for both goals the Magpies conceded in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last month.

"I am delighted with him," Souness said of his £8m January signing from former club Rangers. "I think he is, and will be, a terrific player for this club for a long time to come.

"He has snuffed out (Didier) Drogba and (Thierry) Henry in a very short space of time, and he had a bit of a stinker in the second half against Manchester United. But I would not be too hard on him over the Fulham game because as a defensive unit, we were very poor. We had Steven Taylor, who can play right-back but is not entirely happy there, and a player coming back for his first game since last season in Titus Bramble. He obviously was not ready, but because of the injuries we had, we felt that was our best formation."

"Big players bounce back quickly, they do not dwell on things, and I am sure he will do that."