Cole, Barton likely to be back for City

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce is hoping to have Andy Cole and Joey Barton back for tomorrow’s trip to Newcastle.

Former Magpies striker Cole missed Sunday’s defeat to Bolton and the Carling Cup exit to Doncaster with a hamstring injury, while Barton sat out the shock defeat at Belle Vue with a shin problem.

Nedum Onuoha will also be in Pearce’s squad providing the red card he picked up on Wednesday is overturned by the Football Association as expected.

Trevor Sinclair (knee) is definitely out, as is Robbie Fowler who could be sidelined for another two months with a back complaint.

Provisional squad: James, De Vlieger, Weaver, Mills, Onuoha, Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Jordan, Sun Jihai, Croft, Barton, Reyna, Ireland, Musampa, Hussein, Sibierski, Cole, Vassell, Miller.