Boumsong back for Magpies

French defender Jean-Alain Boumsong returns to the Newcastle squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership trip to Portsmouth as the Magpies look for a ninth successive win.

The £8million signing was ineligible for Wednesday’s 4-0 UEFA Cup victory over Olympiacos, and with Titus Bramble only just on the road to recovery after surgery on a hernia the former Rangers man will boost manager Graeme Souness’ squad.