Roeder reserves judgement on Dyer

Caretaker Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder will make a late decision on whether to hand midfielder Kieron Dyer a Barclays Premiership start at Aston Villa tomorrow.

The 27-year-old played a 60-minute practice match earlier this week and suffered no ill-effects, although he remains short of match fitness.

Defender Craig Moore returned from his hamstring injury for the reserves on Thursday night, but the game could come too soon for him, while Michael Owen (foot), Steven Taylor (shoulder) and Stephen Carr (hernia) are all still out and Amady Faye is yet to return from the African Nations Cup.

Provisional squad: Given, Harper, Ramage, Babayaro, Elliott, Bramble, Boumsong, Parker, Solano, Emre, Dyer, N’Zogbia, Luque, Clark, Bowyer, Brittain, O’Brien, Shearer, Ameobi, Chopra.