Bellamy faces late fitness check

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson will make a late check on striker Craig Bellamy ahead of tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup fourth round, second leg clash with Real Mallorca in Palma.

The frontman, who was involved in an incident with first-team coach John Carver at Newcastle International Airport as the squad prepared to fly out yesterday, is battling to recover from a hamstring injury and Shola Ameobi is standing by.

Midfielder Kieron Dyer (hamstring), full-back Aaron Hughes (calf) and striker Michael Bridges (shin) were all left behind with Andy O’Brien in line to start at right-back and Titus Bramble coming in to replace him in the middle, and youngsters Michael Chopra, Steven Taylor, Martin Brittain and Bradley Orr have been added to the squad.

Squad: Given, Harper, Caig, O’Brien, Bramble, Woodgate, Bernard, Elliott, Ambrose, Jenas, Speed, Viana, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi, Chopra, Taylor, Brittain, Orr.