Owen set for starting role

Michael Owen will return to the Newcastle starting line-up for the club’s Carling Cup second round clash with Barnsley tomorrow night.

The 27-year-old will start his first game for the club this season, while full-back Jose Enrique could be handed a debut.

Peter Ramage is to see a specialist over the cruciate ligament damage he suffered at Middlesbrough on Sunday, but is likely to be sidelined for several months, while Stephen Carr will be out for a matter of weeks with a hamstring tear.

Emre (calf) returns to contention, but Celestine Babayaro (hamstring), Joey Barton (metatarsal) and Damien Duff (ankle) are still missing.

Provisional squad: Harper, Given, Solano, Enrique, N’Zogbia, Rozehnal, Taylor, Cacapa, Milner, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Emre, Pattison, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi, Owen.