Dyer back in Toon squad

England midfielder Kieron Dyer returns to the Newcastle squad for the derby trip to Middlesbrough on Sunday after being rested last weekend.

Dyer, who has missed most of the season through injury and illness, will be included provided he has no setbacks in training, and he will be joined by defender Titus Bramble after he shook off a hamstring problem.

Michael Owen (foot) is making rapid progress in training but is still some way away from a return, while Celestine Babayaro (thigh), Scott Parker (glandular fever) and Steven Taylor (shoulder) are still out.

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