Pearce misses out for Cottagers

Fulham defender Ian Pearce (leg) is sidelined after picking up a knock in the defeat at Sheffield United in midweek, but Phillippe Christanval and Carlos Bocanegra both return to the squad for the Barclays Premiership visit of Newcastle.

Christanval is likely to line up in the centre of defence alongside Zat Knight, but there is no place in the squad for new midfielder Alexei Smertin, who is still trying to gain match fitness.

Italian forward Vincenzo Montella faces a late fitness test on an abductor injury. He is expected to begin as a substitute, with Brian McBride and Heidar Helguson starting in attack.

Provisional squad: Lastuvka, Niemi, Rosenior, Davies, Christanval, Bocanegra, Queudrue, Routledge, Brown, Volz, Omozusi, Radzinski, McBride, Jensen, Knight, Dempsey, Montella, Helguson.