Shearer back for Toon

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer returns to the squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash with Birmingham after nine games on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

Stephen Carr is also available after missing the same number of games with a knee problem, while Andy O’Brien (virus), Shola Ameobi (shoulder) and Olivier Bernard (ankle) should be fit.

However, Patrick Kluivert (hamstring) and Robbie Elliott (ankle) will miss out once again and Nicky Butt (knee) and Ronny Johnsen (hamstring) remain on the long-term casualty list.

Provisional squad: Given, Harper, Carr, Taylor, Bernard, Bramble, O’Brien, Hughes, Ramage, Bowyer, Jenas, Dyer, Robert, Milner, N’Zogbia, Brittain, Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi.