International duty hits Newcastle squad

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has been left counting the cost of England duty after losing Michael Owen and Steven Taylor ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Owen is in Germany for treatment on the thigh problem he suffered in his country’s 1-0 friendly victory in Austria last Friday, while Taylor aggravated a back injury on under-21 duty in Portugal.

With Abdoulaye Faye and Stephen Carr (both hamstring) and Claudio Cacapa (knee) still out, Allardyce has a major problem at the back.

Shay Given (groin) is fit and Nicky Butt is available after suspension, but Celestine Babayaro (back) and Damien Duff (ankle) are not yet ready to return.

Provisional squad: Harper, Given, Beye, Enrique, Rozehnal, Edgar, Butt, Milner, Geremi, Emre, N’Zogbia, Barton, Smith, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi.