Kieron Dyer wants a lift before Christmas to get him over his endless injury problems, and the gaffa says the return of the England international would be a boost to the whole of Tyneside.
Souness: "I'd love to see him over the Christmas period. What a boost that would be. Kieron's return would be an ideal present for everyone at the club. But I can't say where he is at the minute. He is looking at joining in with training next week.
"We are monitoring Kieron week by week and he is trying something new. We are just hoping we can get him back playing regular football. The difference he makes to us in terms of attacking threat is massive.
"Can he make the World Cup? Why not? If he gets fit and has a really good second half of the season, then Sven (Goran Eriksson) would have to take him. There are not too many Kieron Dyers knocking around. He offers something completely different to the rest of the England midfielders.
"But I don't mind admitting his latest breakdown has been a psychological blow for him. When he is training I would imagine he is waiting for it to happen again."
PS ... we had a cracking e-mail from a Toon fan last week having a dig at our article on Dyer after Kieron said he was "suicidal after the West Brom game". We contacted the player and he said it was a tongue-in-cheek comment, and he would not be seen hanging from the Tyne Bridge. So I'm pleased THAT is cleared up.