Wanchope set to miss out

Paulo Wanchope is likely to miss tomorrow’s trip to Newcastle as manager Kevin Keegan returns to his old St James’ Park stomping ground.

Wanchope embarked on an arduous return trip to Central America in midweek where he turned out for Costa Rica in their international friendly against Finland and the City chief believes it will have taken too much out of the striker, so Robbie Fowler is set to partner Nicolas Anelka up front.

England winger Trevor Sinclair has recovered from the dead leg which kept him out of the 3-0 home horror show against Leicester a fortnight ago and should return as Claudio Reyna (flu), Danny Tiatto (hamstring) and Shaun Wright-Phillips (suspension) are all ruled out.

Kevin Ellegaard will continue as goalkeeping deputy to David Seaman, although Keegan is looking for special dispensation to bring in another stopper after Nicky Weaver miserable run of knee injuries continued in midweek.

Provisional squad: Seaman, Ellegaard, Sun, Distin, Dunne, Sommeil, Wiekens, Bosvelt, Berkovic, McManaman, Sinclair, Tarnat, Sibierski, Barton, Anelka, Wanchope, Fowler, Macken.