Dyer, Ameobi could be back for Magpies

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder could be boosted by the return of midfielder Kieron Dyer and striker Shola Ameobi ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership trip to Manchester City.

Dyer has recovered from the freak eye injury which interrupted his comeback from a long-standing hamstring problem, while Ameobi, who will undergo surgery on his damaged hip sooner rather than later, also trained yesterday and is in with a chance.

However, Roeder was giving little away over striker Obafemi Martins’ hamstring injury or whether or not goalkeeper Shay Given will return in place of Steve Harper (groin) after abdominal surgery.

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