Taylor back for Magpies

England Under-21 captain Steven Taylor returns to the Newcastle United squad for Sunday’s game with bottom-of-the-table Derby County at St James’ Park.

The United defender missed last Saturday’s victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage with a hamstring injury but is not sure of his place against Derby after central defenders Claudio Cacapa and David Rozehnal helped Sam Allardyce’s side to their first clean sheet since September 1.

Allardyce is hoping United’s other injured players Michael Owen, Shola Ameobi, Abdoulaye Faye, Stephen Carr and Damien Duff will all be fit for the Boxing Day trip to Wigan Athletic.

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