Double blow for Magpies

Newcastle have been dealt a double injury blow on the eve of the UEFA Cup third-round, first-leg clash with Heerenveen in Holland tomorrow.

Midfielders Kieron Dyer and Nicky Butt have had to withdraw from the squad with flu and an ankle problem respectively, leaving manager Graeme Souness with a new selection problem.

French defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, who is ineligible anyway, travelled to Paris earlier in the week to see an osteopath over a suspected back injury. Peter Ramage has been included in a 19-man squad.

Team (from): Given, Harper, Carr, Taylor, Babayaro, Bramble, O’Brien, Hughes, Ramage, Jenas, Robert, Bowyer, Ambrose, Milner, Faye, N’Zogbia, Shearer, Ameobi, Kluivert.