Shearer fit for action

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer will line up against Fulham with a protective dressing guarding a broken knuckle.

But 20-year-old midfielder Jermaine Jenas will be missing following surgery to repair a fractured and dislocated finger, while Laurent Robert is out for between 10 days and three weeks with a medial ligament strain.

The pair join Gary Speed (hernia) and new signing Darren Ambrose (knee) on the sidleines, and although there is a slight worry over Brian Kerr (heel), Sir Bobby Robson is hopeful that he will be available.

Provisional squad: Given, Harper, Griffin, O’Brien, S Caldwell, Bramble, Woodgate, Hughes, Bernard, Kerr, Solano, Dyer, Acuna, Viana, Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi, LuaLua.