There is mixed news ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier with Craig Bellamy definitely ruled out with a knee injury, but Jonathan Woodgate is expected to return after recovering from his stomach injury.
Titus Bramble is expected to make way for Woodgate’s return while Shola Ameobi is likely to start alongside Alan Shearer up front, despite press speculation that Kieron Dyer would move forward.
With Lee Bowyer out suspended Nobby Solano will return to the team to add some much needed width on the right, while there are some suggestions that Hugo Viana will replace Laurent Robert on the left.
At the back Olivier Bernard will return at the expense of Andy Griffin, with Aaron Hughes switching flanks.
Once again there looks to be no starting place for Jermaine Jenas.
Expected line-up: Given; Hughes, Bernard, Woodgate, O’Brien; Solano, Viana, Dyer, Speed; Shearer, Ameobi.
Subs from: Harper, Griffin, Bramble, S. Caldwell, Robert, Jenas, Ambrose, LuaLua, Chopra.
Partizan Belgrade are expected to be unchanged from the first leg, after Nikola Malbasa, Taribo West and Milivoje Cirkovic were passed fit.