Moore back in action

Newcastle defender Craig Moore will get his first competitive run-out for the club tonight after finally shaking off his injury problems.

The Australian international, a summer signing from Borussia Monchengladbach, will line up alongside Peter Ramage in central defence for the reserves at Birmingham.

It will be his first taste of action since the pre-season friendly against Yeading, in which he scored on his debut, because of a hamstring problem which has sidelined him since.

Moore was allowed to join up with his international team-mates for their training camp earlier this month and is now looking to step up his fitness to push Jean-Alain Boumsong, Titus Bramble and Steven Taylor for a place in the first team squad.

Midfielder Lee Clark, who was used only as a late substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Saturday, and strikers Shola Ameobi and Michael Chopra are also included in Tommy Craig’s starting line-up.