Jermaine Jenas is in line to start for
Jenas took part in a training match yesterday and played in the midfield role made available as a result of David Beckham’s suspension.
If he does start alongside Nicky Butt it will mean that two thirds of the England midfield belongs to Newcastle United with Frank Lampard occupying the remaining spot.
Jenas has enjoyed a resurgence of form under Graeme Souness and appears to have snapped out of the comfort zone he fell into during Sir Bobby Robson’s reign.
For both Butt and Jenas to start would generate a huge amount of confidence ahead of Sunday’s trip to The Valley.
Having earlier in the week stated that he was content just to be part of the squad, Jenas will now surely be very disappointed if he fails to make the starting eleven in