Toon Defence Takes Another Blow

Last updated : 31 December 2006 By Footy Mad - Editor

Injury-hit Newcastle may be forced to play Nicky Butt in the centre of defence for the visit of Manchester United. Ramage joins Titus Bramble (calf), Craig Moore (hamstring), Celestine Babayaro (hamstring), Olivier Bernard (hip) and Stephen Carr (foot).

Nobby Solano is already playing out of position at right back, and Steven Taylor is Newcastle's only fit senior centre-back.

MANCHESTER UNITED ...
Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic return to the Manchester United line-up after being suspended for Saturday's home win over Reading.

Rio Ferdinand (shin) is a doubt, but captain Gary Neville is back after a calf injury.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Srnicek, Krul, Solano, Edgar, Taylor, Huntington, Parker, Butt, Emre, Milner, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll.

MAN UTD (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, Evra, Heinze, Ronaldo, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, O'Shea, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Solskjaer, Saha.