Butt back for Magpies

Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt returns to the squad for Sunday’s Barclays Premiership visit to Birmingham after missing the midweek UEFA Cup trip to Israel through suspension.

Manager Graeme Souness returned from the Middle East with no fresh injury worries and will be hopeful of having Robbie Elliott available again after he sat out the 5-1 victory over Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin with a stomach bug.

New signing Ronny Johnsen could be included for the first time but Titus Bramble (groin) and Kieron Dyer (hamstring) will still be missing.

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