Magpies wait on defensive duo

Newcastle will give late fitness tests to defenders Titus Bramble and Steven Taylor ahead of Sunday’s Barclays Premiership trip to West Ham.

Bramble suffered knee and ankle injuries in the 1-0 UEFA Cup victory over Levadia Tallinn, while Taylor missed the midweek game with a badly bruised foot.

Peter Ramage is on stand-by to partner Craig Moore, while Celestine Babayaro is battling a hamstring problem, Olivier Bernard is fighting for match fitness and Nolberto Solano is out with a hamstring strain.

Provisional squad: Given, Harper, Carr, Ramage, Babayaro, Bernard, Bramble, Moore, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Parker, Butt, Emre, Duff, N’Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Ameobi, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Rossi.