Newcastle - Early Team News.

[Alan75]

Rovers go into tomorrows away game against Newcastle looking for their fifth consecutive win, just 3 points and 1 place off 6th place in the league, which would at the end of the season give them a qualifying position for Europe. With regards to Europe, it would appear that Souness's stance against the UEFA Cup is softening, for in an interview for the official web site, it is being reported that should Rovers get the required points to qualify for Europe he will celebrate as much as anyone else.

http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/today....00.html

For once this season Souness will be spoilt for choice, in midfield and up front although he still has a selection problem in defence due to the continued absense of Lucas Neill.

David Dunn who missed last weeks win against Arsenal due to injury is back in Souness's squad, as is Andy Cole after the he and Souness patched things up following their training ground bust-up last week. Damian Duff having had no adverse reaction following his return from injury against Arsenal last week retains his place, which would see him making it 150 league starts for the club, however Rovers will still be without the suspended Lucas Neill and long term injury victim David Thompson.

Rovers Squad:

Friedel, Kelly, Taylor, Berg, Gresko, Short, Todd, Johansson, Tugay, Flitcroft, Duff, Gillespie, Hakan Sukur, Grabbi, Cole, Dunn, Yorke.

Newcastle Squad:

Given, Harper, Hughes, Griffin, Bernard, Woodgate, O'Brien, Bramble, Caldwell, Speed, Robert, Dyer, Solano, Jenas, Viana, Kerr, Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi, LuaLua.

Referee.

Neale Barry, who has issued 3 red cards and 56 yellow cards in 16 games so far this season.

Turkish Delight

Tugay and Hakan Sukar have both been named in Turkey's squad to face England in the European qualifier against England at the Stadium of Light.

Due to injuries this is the first time that Sukar has been named in the Turkish Squad since the World Cup.