Eagles will wait on Johnson fitness

Iain Dowie will give Crystal Palace leading scorer Andy Johnson every chance to prove his fitness ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash with Newcastle at Selhurst Park.

The striker, who has scored eight league goals so far, missed the defeat at Liverpool last week with a hip injury and is a major doubt again tomorrow. Should he not feature, Dougie Freedman will deputise in attack once more.

Defender Fitz Hall (knee) is also a worry, while Colombia striker Ivan Kaviedes is expected to be given extra time off to recover following his midweek trip to South America.

Team (from): Kiraly, Speroni, Boyce, Hall, Granville, Butterfield, Leigertwood, Hudson, Popovic, Powell, Borrowdale, Hughes, Watson, Riihilahti, Kolkka, Lakis, Routledge, Kaviedes, Johnson, Freedman, Torghelle, Soares, Danze, Derry, Shipperley.