With Joey Barton and Michael Owen definitely out and Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia in doubt, Joe Kinnear is struggling to put together a side for the derby against Sunderland this weekend.Gutierrez Green Light To Face Mackems!
With Joey Barton and Michael Owen definitely out and Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia in doubt, Joe Kinnear is struggling to put together a side for the derby against Sunderland this weekend.Nicky Butt is back from suspension and although Mark Viduka (Achilles), Claudio Cacapa (knee) and Alan Smith (foot/ankle) have all returned to training, the visit of the Black Cats may come too soon for them.
Obafemi Martins (hernia surgery), Shola Ameobi (knee), Habib Beye (ankle) and Tamas Kadar (broken leg) remain on the casualty list.
One positive bit of news for Kinnear is that Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez is available despite receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Manchester City.
He will serve the ban next weekend when Newcastle travel to West Brom.