Souness sweats on Bellamy

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness is hopeful that striker Craig Bellamy will be fit to keep his place for tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup first round second-leg clash with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin in Tel Aviv.

The Welshman twisted an ankle during Saturday’s 3-1 win over West Brom, but is expected to be available, as is Patrick Kluivert, who came off with a minor hamstring problem.

However, midfielder Nicky Butt starts his three-match European ban after being sent off in the first leg, while Titus Bramble and Ronny Johnsen continue their battle for match fitness and Kieron Dyer (hamstring) and Shola Ameobi (hip) remain on the sidelines.

Squad: Given, Harper, Carr, Bernard, O’Brien, Elliott, Hughes, Taylor, Ramage, Bowyer, Jenas, Robert, Milner, Ambrose, Brittain, Shearer, Bellamy, Kluivert.