Key Magpies players struggling ahead of FA Cup tie

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is sweating on the fitness of a series of key players ahead of tomorrow evening’s FA Cup third round trip to Stevenage.

Wednesday night’s hat-trick hero Leon Best is struggling with a heel injury picked up in the 5-0 demolition of West Ham, and with Andy Carroll (thigh) and Shola Ameobi (ankle) already ruled out, youngster Nile Ranger is on stand-by.

Defender Steven Taylor and midfielder Cheik Tiote both limped off with hamstring problems in midweek, and while Taylor is the bigger doubt, Pardew is hoping both could yet be available.

Alan Smith (knee) and Sol Campbell (sore leg) are also struggling, while Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) are still out, but Dan Gosling (knee) is approaching full fitness.

Provisional squad (from): Harper, Krul, Simpson, Perch, Ferguson, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, S Taylor, Kadar, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Smith, Routledge, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Vuckic, Tavernier, Donaldson, Lovenkrands, Best, Ranger, Xisco.