Butt may have defensive role

Injury-hit Newcastle may be forced to play Nicky Butt in the centre of defence for the visit of Premiership leaders Manchester United.

Peter Ramage was forced off with a hamstring injury in the defeat at Everton and Butt impressed following his switch from midfield to defence.

Ramage’s injury has left Steven Taylor as Newcastle’s only fit senior centre-half, with Titus Bramble (calf) and Craig Moore (hamstring) again missing.

Newcastle are still without Celestine Babayaro (hamstring), Damien Duff (knee), Michael Owen (knee), Charles N’Zogbia (knee), Shola Ameobi (hip), Olivier Bernard (hip), Stephen Carr (foot) and Steve Harper (hernia).

Provisional squad: Given, Srnicek, Krul, Solano, Edgar, Taylor, Huntington, Parker, Butt, Emre, Milner, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll.