Luque handed chance torevitalise Magpies career

FORGOTTEN man Albert Luque will come in from the cold in Sicily tonight as Newcastle attempt to ease towards the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

The 28-year-old Spaniard is the main beneficiary of an injury crisis which has wrecked manager Glenn Roeder’s plans for the tie against Palermo.

A 23-man party jetted out of Newcastle yesterday with £10 million summer signing Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi and Michael Owen left behind in the treatment room and Giuseppe Rossi ineligible to play in Europe. In addition, skipper Scott Parker stayed behind, as did Damien Duff, Stephen Carr and Celestine Babayaro, who all have minor knocks, although Emre and Sibierski are both fit. Keeper Steve Harper is struggling with a groin strain, which could hand Dutch teenager Tim Krul his debut.