Shearer looking for man in middle

Newcastle boss Alan Shearer is facing a midfield headache ahead of Monday night’s crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Middlesbrough.

Joey Barton begins his three-match suspension after being sent off at Liverpool on Sunday, while Alan Smith is a major doubt with a thigh problem.

Left-back Jose Enrique is struggling to shake off his hamstring injury, but central defender Steven Taylor (ankle) returned to training yesterday after two games on the sidelines and could figure.

Provisional squad: Harper, Forster, Krul, Beye, Bassong, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Edgar, Cacapa, Butt, Duff, R. Taylor, Gutierrez, Nolan, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Geremi, Smith, Martins, Owen, Viduka, Carroll, Xisco, Ranger.