Given doubtful for Magpies

Newcastle manager Graeme Souness is sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Shay Given as he prepares for tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup quarter-final second leg with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

The Irishman is struggling with a hip injury and Steve Harper is standing by again, although defender Titus Bramble could return a little more than four weeks after undergoing surgery on a hernia.

Aaron Hughes is suspended and Jean-Alain Boumsong ineligible but Kieron Dyer, who has shaken off a hamstring problem, Lee Bowyer and Steven Taylor are available after missing Sunday’s 1-0 Barclays Premiership defeat at Tottenham through domestic bans, and Patrick Kluivert has recovered from a knee injury.

Provisional squad: Given, Harper, Caig, Carr, Babayaro, Taylor, Elliott, O’Brien, Bramble, Ramage, Dyer, Robert, Bowyer, Butt, Faye, Jenas, N’Zogbia, Milner, Ambrose, Shearer, Ameobi, Kluivert.