Duff still out for Toon

Irish international Damien Duff (calf) is out of tomorrow night’s Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt will also miss out on the match his with former club.

The 34-year-old damaged his knee in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Bolton and will not make it for the Carling Cup winners’ visit to St James’ Park, with Geremi or Alan Smith set to deputise.

Kevin Nolan will serve the second leg of a three-match ban, Michael Owen (ankle ligaments), Habib Beye (ankle), Danny Guthrie (hamstring), Joey Barton and Xisco (both fractured metatarsal) are still out.

Provisional squad: Harper, Forster, S. Taylor, Bassong, Coloccini, Enrique, Edgar, Cacapa, R. Taylor, Lovenkrands, Geremi, Donaldson, Ameobi, Jonas, Smith, Viduka, Martins, Carroll.