Soccer: Shearer back in Newcastle team to face Howey's City

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer will go straight into the starting line up for the Premiership clash with Manchester City just two months after undergoing knee surgery.

However, partner Carl Cort will be out for a further two weeks after suffering a new setback in his bid to recover from a hamstring problem.

Gary Speed is a major doubt with a calf strain and Christian Bassedas is suspended.

Meanwhile, Manchester City midfielder Jeff Whitley is available again after suspension and returns to the squad at for the trip to the north-east.

Defender Steve Howey, who missed the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool because of a broken toe, is determined to face his former club.

He is likely to replace Andy Morrison at the heart of the City back line.

Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Quinn, Griffin, Barton, Goma, Hughes, Speed, Lee, Solano, Acuna, Dyer, Glass, Shearer, Ameobi, Gallacher, Lua Lua, Cordone.

Man City (from): Weaver, Dunne, Morrison, Howey, Prior, Granville, Kanchelskis, Wiekens, Haaland, Whitley, Tiatto, Huckerby, Goater, Edghill, Taylor, McKinney, Grant, Wright-Phillips.