Taylor back for Magpies

Newcastle defender Steven Taylor will return to the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Portsmouth after recovering from illness.

The England Under-21 skipper was withdraw after a fitness test before last week’s 3-0 win over Reading, his place in the starting line-up taken by David Edgar.

Stephen Carr (hamstring), James Milner (foot), Claudio Cacapa (groin) and Peter Ramage (knee) are all closing in on returns, while Shay Given is still fighting his way back from groin surgery.

Provisional squad: Harper, Forster, Beye, Enrique, Taylor, Faye, Edgar, Butt, N’Zogbia, Duff, Barton, Geremi, Owen, Smith, Martins, Viduka, Carroll.