Injuries force Newcastle to change

Injury-plagued Newcastle are forced to make changes as they look to clinch top spot in UEFA Cup group D at home to Sporting Lisbon tonight.

With Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert, Nicky Butt and Stephen Carr already injured, out-of-favour Frenchman Laurent Robert and Kieron Dyer join them on the sidelines – while suspended Lee Bowyer and the ineligible Ronny Johnsen are also unavailable to Graeme Souness.

Robbie Elliott and Darren Ambrose are drafted into the starting line-up. But even with the presence of youngsters Martin Brittain, Peter Ramage and Lewis Guy on the bench, the Magpies cannot muster the full complement of substitutes.

By contrast, Sporting coach Jose Peseiro is able to welcome back both Custodio Castro and Paulo Tinga, who were suspended for the 0-0 league draw with Sporting Braga at the weekend.

Newcastle: Given, Taylor, Bramble, Elliott, Hughes, Milner, Ambrose, Jenas, Bernard, Bellamy, Ameobi. Subs: Andrew O’Brien, Harper, Brittain, Guy, Ramage.

Sporting: Ricardo, Beto, Anderson Polga, Enakahire, Paito, Rogerio, Rochemback, Custodio, Tinga, Pinilla, Liedson. Subs: Tiago, Pedro Barbosa, Tello, Sa Pinto, Miguel Garcia, Douala, Danny.

Referee: Paul Allaerts (Belgium)