Defensive dilemma for Kinnear

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear faces a defensive headache ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.

Steven Taylor (abdominal muscle) is still out, leaving Kinnear to chose two central defenders from Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong and Claudio Cacapa.

Danny Guthrie is likely to deputise for Joey Barton (knee) in central midfield. Striker Mark Viduka (Achilles) is back in training but is not yet ready to return, while Xisco (hamstring), Gonzalez (Achilles) and Alan Smith (foot) are still out.

Provisional squad: Given, Harper, Beye, Enrique, N’Zogbia, Bassong, Coloccini, Cacapa, Edgar, Butt, Guthrie, Duff, Gutierrez, Geremi, Ameobi, Owen, Martins, Carroll.